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A review by aranafyre
A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge
5.0
This book was fascinating. I love the concept of space. The closer you go to the center of the galaxy the dumber and slower you and technology get. The unthinking depths. And then the higher you go the more advanced technology and intelligence gets. Races will migrate up and transcend or create technology that transcends. The transcended are not always benevolent.
The book starts with a colony of humans that found an ancient archive. When they go digging around they inadvertently wake an ancient power, the Blight. Yet they also inadvertently create two other consciousnesses. Most of the humans die horribly but they are able to get a single space ship away carrying the human children and something that the blight wants.
The other fascinating part were the races. The ship crashes on a planet of dog-like creatures that have a pack mind/soul. Lots of implications about what makes intelligence and a persons soul. Then there are the Riders. They are very interesting. A race of sentient plants with calm friendly demeanors and limited short term memory. Humanity is also a neat concept. There are a few references to Earth deep in the slowness. But most of humanity has come from Nyjora with their medieval princesses and adventures.
Lots of things to think on and a great adventure story.
The book starts with a colony of humans that found an ancient archive. When they go digging around they inadvertently wake an ancient power, the Blight. Yet they also inadvertently create two other consciousnesses. Most of the humans die horribly but they are able to get a single space ship away carrying the human children and something that the blight wants.
The other fascinating part were the races. The ship crashes on a planet of dog-like creatures that have a pack mind/soul. Lots of implications about what makes intelligence and a persons soul. Then there are the Riders. They are very interesting. A race of sentient plants with calm friendly demeanors and limited short term memory. Humanity is also a neat concept. There are a few references to Earth deep in the slowness. But most of humanity has come from Nyjora with their medieval princesses and adventures.
Lots of things to think on and a great adventure story.