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A review by sonice
A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
5.0
Hooo boy, 5.0 stars. More of this! More!
This was a masterpiece of plotting and storytelling. We get the main overarching storyline, which builds the tension over the course of the novel and is both fascinating and horrifying, as well as several smaller character focused plot threads that are weaved expertly underneath. Some of these – hell, all of them – are real jaw droppers, especially when you give them some extra thought. Qiwi’s whole situation. The truth about Reynolt. Pham and Sura, Sherk and Victoria. Ezr and Trixia if you feel like some emotional pain and suffering. There is just so much happening in this book and all of it was incredible.
This book has some big, creative ideas as well - space spiders, nanotech, designer viruses - and it does a great job of using them to ask some serious questions. Where is the line (if there is one) between technological advancement and the loss of our humanity? Do the ends always justify the means? How much sacrifice and loss is acceptable in the pursuit of vision and ambition? I love me some philosophy, and that itch is satisfyingly scratched here.
Personally, I liked this even better than A Fire Upon The Deep, which might be something of a hot take. If you’ve read that one and haven’t checked this out, make it a priority.
I guess the third and final book is not all that great? That’s a shame. I’d love another entry of this calibre.
This was a masterpiece of plotting and storytelling. We get the main overarching storyline, which builds the tension over the course of the novel and is both fascinating and horrifying, as well as several smaller character focused plot threads that are weaved expertly underneath. Some of these – hell, all of them – are real jaw droppers, especially when you give them some extra thought. Qiwi’s whole situation. The truth about Reynolt. Pham and Sura, Sherk and Victoria. Ezr and Trixia if you feel like some emotional pain and suffering. There is just so much happening in this book and all of it was incredible.
This book has some big, creative ideas as well - space spiders, nanotech, designer viruses - and it does a great job of using them to ask some serious questions. Where is the line (if there is one) between technological advancement and the loss of our humanity? Do the ends always justify the means? How much sacrifice and loss is acceptable in the pursuit of vision and ambition? I love me some philosophy, and that itch is satisfyingly scratched here.
Personally, I liked this even better than A Fire Upon The Deep, which might be something of a hot take. If you’ve read that one and haven’t checked this out, make it a priority.
I guess the third and final book is not all that great? That’s a shame. I’d love another entry of this calibre.