[BOTM] - SERIES PICK - A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge

[Anna]

Greetings Space Opera Fans!

Our SERIES PICK continues with Book 2 of the Zones of Thought series by Vernor Vinge, A Deepness in the Sky.



"After thousands of years searching, humans stand on the verge of first contact with an alien race. Two human groups: the Qeng Ho, a culture of free traders, and the Emergents, a ruthless society based on the technological enslavement of minds.The group that opens trade with the aliens will reap unimaginable riches. But first, both groups must wait at the aliens' very doorstep for their strange star to relight and for their planet to reawaken, as it does every two hundred and fifty years....Then, following terrible treachery, the Qeng Ho must fight for their freedom and for the lives of the unsuspecting innocents on the planet below, while the aliens themselves play a role unsuspected by the Qeng Ho and Emergents alike.More than just a great science fiction adventure, A Deepness in the Sky is a universal drama of courage, self-discovery, and the redemptive power of love.

A Deepness in the Sky is a 1999 Nebula Award Nominee for Best Novel and the winner of the 2000 Hugo Award for Best Novel..."

Are you reading A Deepness in the Sky? Shout it out in the comments thread below to find out who else is reading it and discuss what you think about the book. Just remember to be kind ...use the spoiler .html (view spoiler)[so you don't ruin the fun for other people (hide spoiler)] or open your own spoiler-filled discussion thread in the Book Buddies Club folder located w-a-y at the bottom of the main community page where you can discuss the book in spoilery goodness.

[Chumofchance]

Particularly enjoyed this book, the Qeng Ho were an interesting interstellar society that felt real & loved their intriguing. The aliens, without giving away too much, felt a little too human, I know this was an intentional choice & matter of perspective, but it was a bit annoying to see how veddy veddy British they were. Otherwise a masterpiece, have not read the third in this series but want to.

[Anna]

Chumofchance wrote: "it was a bit annoying to see how veddy veddy British they were. Otherwise a masterpiece, have not read the third in this series but want to..."

Kinda like the Little People in Gullivers Travels?

Lucky for you, NEXT month we'll be reading Book 3 as a group read, so maybe that will prompt you to finally finish it off? I'm like that myself ... I'm so busy all the time that I get distracted from finishing off series ... even when I buy the books!

[Packi]

Just finished this book and loved it so much. Rarely you come across a book that has it’s story move forward so smoothly and logically. I can't think of a single "filler" chapter, and that in a 800 page book.

I love Vinge's show, don't tell approach. He throws you into situations without telling you what's going on, only as time progresses you realize "Oh, it’s like that!". Imo this makes it very close to reality.

I found myself caring for all the main characters, including the spiders. To comment on the human-like aliens, it’s evident from the book that it’s due to the translation. (view spoiler)[Everything we read about them has been translated by the zipheads. Vinge reveals it to the reader in chapter 57, when Pham reads over Trixias translations. We find the passage from chapter 4, the first chapter from the spiders perspective. (hide spoiler)] I thought this was pretty ingenious.

So way too little talk about this book itt. Maybe the holidays got in the way. It fully deserves the high rating it has on this site.

[Rion]

I agree with your commentary Packi. I'm on page 250 right now, but so far I'm enjoying it more than A Fire Upon the Deep. This book does flow much better. The only similarities I've identified so far, is the alien world and earth like biological creatures, being the spiders, which is still creeping me out every time I envision them. The Tines seemed over complicated. I think he's simplified the story so far by focusing on the slow Zone as well. Eager to finish this book.

[Ryan]

I really enjoyed this book - one of the best I've read this year. I finished some time ago, but it took me some time to collect my thoughts. Here are some questions I had.

(view spoiler)[I remember almost none of the first book in the series. As a result, the prologue, with "the Man" i.e. Ducanh i.e. Pham Nuwen doesn't make sense to me. How did he end up there, what was he doing there? Did Sammy's visit suddenly rekindle his ambition? Can anyone provide the context from the first book necessary to appreciate this?

The first few mentions of Brisgo Gap don't seem to make sense. They reference "ejets": why?

In Chapter 42, Pham thinks to himself about Ezr: "You're part of the reason I have to kill Anne Reynolt, you little jerk." Why?

In Chapter 43, why did Pham blow the localizers when he and Ezr were talking about Focus? I realize he was angry and emotional, but this act seemed impetuous and pointless, which is not in character.

In Chapter 55, why did Victory and co. show up to the command center and take control? Was it just to ensure they stayed online so Trixia and co. could control it? If so, what were Trixia and co. hoping to do with that command center?

Chapter 66 (the last one): When Trixia and Victory were talking, Victory said: "But it got harder and harder to disguise the counterlurk. Videomancy was a great cover, it let us have independent hardware and a covert data stream right under the humans' snouts." What was the purpose of this counterlurk, and was Trixia involved with it?

Epilogue: Pham plans to go to the galactic core, seemingly on the off-chance that he may find a "supercivilization". Does this strike anyone else as implausible, too much of a shot in the dark?

The characters speculate that Sherkaner went underground or something, "he intends to outlast all the mysteries"..."beginning on the greatest Lurk of all." What's all this about? (hide spoiler)]