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wizadora 's review for:
A Fire Upon the Deep
by Vernor Vinge
First of all - I read the Sci-fi Masterworks version of this book. I have NO Idea what the front cover of that version has to do with the story line.
I really REALLY struggled with this book at first. The first chapter was confusing as hell, as you slowly realise the people in the chapter are not humanoid AT ALL. It's not until later on that it's explained what these people are like - a pack intelligence. A "person" - as in, an intelligent, conscious being - is considered to be a pack of 4 or more individual dog-like beings. A singleton can never be a person, only have the potential to be one when melded with other singletons. It's a weird and fascinating idea, I wish it were real!
Anyway like I said, it took me a long while to properly get into this book, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. It was brilliant. A proper space opera - I think I understand what that term means now! If you're a fan of hard core science fiction, I definitely recommend this book.
I really REALLY struggled with this book at first. The first chapter was confusing as hell, as you slowly realise the people in the chapter are not humanoid AT ALL. It's not until later on that it's explained what these people are like - a pack intelligence. A "person" - as in, an intelligent, conscious being - is considered to be a pack of 4 or more individual dog-like beings. A singleton can never be a person, only have the potential to be one when melded with other singletons. It's a weird and fascinating idea, I wish it were real!
Anyway like I said, it took me a long while to properly get into this book, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. It was brilliant. A proper space opera - I think I understand what that term means now! If you're a fan of hard core science fiction, I definitely recommend this book.