Reviews

I dont know why people love this book so much. It was good but it couldve been 25% the length it was... Because of that.... it was a chore to get thru. I loved A Fire Upon the Deep and hated both its sequels. So I guess Im done with Vernor Vinge... A One Hit Wonder for me I guess.

leemartin91's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

rheren's review against another edition

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5.0

Re-read of one of my all-time favorites. Such a complex storyline, a compelling plot twist right when it seems that all hope is lost, The bad guys get what's coming to them, the technology and alien culture is fascinating and absorbing. Brilliant in every respect. I like this even better than "A Fire Upon The Deep", which is also one of my favorites, and is another Vernor Vinge.

richie_beamand's review

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

johnayliff's review

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4.0

I didn't enjoy this quite as much as A Fire Upon the Deep, but it is a very different beast, with the story playing out over a large expanse of time rather than of space. I found the middle of the book to be a bit slow going, but it paid off in the last hundred pages or so which were riveting. The portrayal of the aliens, and the contrast between how they appear to themselves and how they appear to humans, was delightful.

timothyb's review against another edition

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medium-paced

5.0

matthewbrand's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed this book. The way he makes the sides seem so human and then at the climax start to make them feel alien is beautiful. I can't quite give it the coveted Matthew Brand 5 star rating though. But, really, any sci-fi fan should read this.

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