_A Fire Upon The Deep_ by Vernor Vinge

Shadowplay · 06-20-2008, 02:39 AM

I just finished A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge and wanted to give a very short review for those who haven't read this.

Absolutely brilliant! This is definitely one of the best real *science* fiction novels I've ever read and I'd say one of the best books from any genre I've ever read. There are countless plot summaries out there and many more comments that pick apart the book so I'll leave that out here.

Very, very good read - highly recommended.

mbovenka · 06-20-2008, 08:35 AM

Fully agreed. And the sequel A Deepness in the Sky is as good, if not better.

Nate the great · 06-20-2008, 08:41 AM

"A Deepness in the Sky" is a prequel.

Shadowplay · 06-20-2008, 11:18 AM

I've heard mixed things about the prequel - should I ignore what I've heard and just read it now while _A Fire Upon The Deep_ is fresh in my mind?

Nate the great · 06-20-2008, 11:20 AM

I think it's very good. I recommend it.

DixieGal · 06-20-2008, 11:48 AM

I think both books could easily stand alone. My preference was Fire Upon the Deep, but Deepness was also good. As a matter of fact, a week or so ago when I was cleaning the bookshelves, I decided Deepness could not be rehabilitated and tossed it out. (I have a history of cruelty to books, slicing them into many smaller volumes in order to make them easier to hold.)

I think maybe it is time to get Fire and re-read it. Thanks for the reminder!

Shadowplay · 06-20-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I think both books could easily stand alone. My preference was Fire Upon the Deep, but Deepness was also good. As a matter of fact, a week or so ago when I was cleaning the bookshelves, I decided Deepness could not be rehabilitated and tossed it out. (I have a history of cruelty to books, slicing them into many smaller volumes in order to make them easier to hold.)

*shudders*

I don't think I could bring myself to cut up a book I liked. That's just wrong - wrong I tell you!

DixieGal · 06-20-2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowplay

*shudders*

I don't think I could bring myself to cut up a book I liked. That's just wrong - wrong I tell you!

Even worse.... I slap them back together with a rubber band, then usually either share or donate. The first time a new friends gets "gifted" with one, I always have to explain about the sliced/dogeared/crumpled/swollen from getting soaked condition.

But the words still taste the same!

DixieGal · 06-20-2008, 01:20 PM

Speaking of Fire Upon the Deep, Nate's pup looks like I imagine the pups in the story.

Shadowplay · 06-20-2008, 01:38 PM

Hehe I have a totally different image in mind for the Tines

DixieGal · 06-20-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowplay

Hehe I have a totally different image in mind for the Tines

Do tell?

Nate the great · 06-20-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Speaking of Fire Upon the Deep, Nate's pup looks like I imagine the pups in the story.

I should have named her "Tines".

She has recently developed a new endearing habit. She decided she likes to sleep on top of my blankets instead of beneath. The only problem with this is that when her feet get cold she tries to shove them under me. This is not a good way to be woken up at 3 am.

Shadowplay · 06-20-2008, 02:17 PM

Well...

* * * MILD SPOILER ALERT * * *

See there were enough comments about the elongated necks plus remember that at first Johanna thought they looked much more like giant rats (R.O.U.S. anyone? hehe) than dogs. So I really made myself stop and picture them instead of falling into picturing medium sized dogs.

By the end of the book there I really wanted to have a long conversation with Peregrine (the Pilgrim) because he would be so fascinating to talk with.

Oh and totally branching off the main conversation here (forced pun, watch for it!) how 'bout the Skroderiders?

I've never been so emotionally involved with a rolling, talking plant! I realized several times that I kept picturing them too small! What sold that point strongest to me was near the very end of the book...

* * * HEAVIER SPOILER * * *

...when Blueshell carried Amdijefri (all 8 members of Amdi's pack plus Jefri) on his skrode. That really tells you just how big the Skroderiders must be. I kept picturing these little potted ferns that were only a couple feet tall, but these guys have to be more like 5 feet or more tall *plus* the height of the skrode and the width has to be at least 5 feet square I'd think, maybe more. I don't remember Vinge ever telling us exact dimensions though.

* * * END SPOILERS * * *

Ok enough rambling for me

Timoleon · 06-20-2008, 03:45 PM

Both great books, both Hugo Award winners. I actually started reading science fiction again after stumbling into "A Fire Upon The Deep." Here I am now, 3 e-book devices later and two hundred books down the line...Thanks, Vernor!

astrodad · 06-20-2008, 03:51 PM

I've been looking for an ebook version of this for some time. Anyone know where to get it (nonDarknet)?

06-20-2008, 02:39 AM	#1
Shadowplay Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 1096228 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Oasis	_A Fire Upon The Deep_ by Vernor Vinge I just finished A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge and wanted to give a very short review for those who haven't read this. Absolutely brilliant! This is definitely one of the best real science fiction novels I've ever read and I'd say one of the best books from any genre I've ever read. There are countless plot summaries out there and many more comments that pick apart the book so I'll leave that out here. Very, very good read - highly recommended.

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06-20-2008, 08:35 AM	#2
mbovenka Wizard Posts: 2,052 Karma: 13579113 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Almere, The Netherlands Device: Kobo Sage	Fully agreed. And the sequel A Deepness in the Sky is as good, if not better.

06-20-2008, 08:41 AM	#3
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	"A Deepness in the Sky" is a prequel.

06-20-2008, 11:18 AM	#4
Shadowplay Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 1096228 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Oasis	I've heard mixed things about the prequel - should I ignore what I've heard and just read it now while _A Fire Upon The Deep_ is fresh in my mind?

06-20-2008, 11:20 AM	#5
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	I think it's very good. I recommend it.

06-20-2008, 11:48 AM	#6
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I think both books could easily stand alone. My preference was Fire Upon the Deep, but Deepness was also good. As a matter of fact, a week or so ago when I was cleaning the bookshelves, I decided Deepness could not be rehabilitated and tossed it out. (I have a history of cruelty to books, slicing them into many smaller volumes in order to make them easier to hold.) I think maybe it is time to get Fire and re-read it. Thanks for the reminder!

06-20-2008, 01:20 PM	#9
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Speaking of Fire Upon the Deep, Nate's pup looks like I imagine the pups in the story.

06-20-2008, 01:38 PM	#10
Shadowplay Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 1096228 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Oasis	Hehe I have a totally different image in mind for the Tines

06-20-2008, 02:17 PM	#13
Shadowplay Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 1096228 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Oasis	Well... * * * MILD SPOILER ALERT * * * See there were enough comments about the elongated necks plus remember that at first Johanna thought they looked much more like giant rats (R.O.U.S. anyone? hehe) than dogs. So I really made myself stop and picture them instead of falling into picturing medium sized dogs. By the end of the book there I really wanted to have a long conversation with Peregrine (the Pilgrim) because he would be so fascinating to talk with. Oh and totally branching off the main conversation here (forced pun, watch for it!) how 'bout the Skroderiders? I've never been so emotionally involved with a rolling, talking plant! I realized several times that I kept picturing them too small! What sold that point strongest to me was near the very end of the book... * * * HEAVIER SPOILER * * * ...when Blueshell carried Amdijefri (all 8 members of Amdi's pack plus Jefri) on his skrode. That really tells you just how big the Skroderiders must be. I kept picturing these little potted ferns that were only a couple feet tall, but these guys have to be more like 5 feet or more tall plus the height of the skrode and the width has to be at least 5 feet square I'd think, maybe more. I don't remember Vinge ever telling us exact dimensions though. * * * END SPOILERS * * * Ok enough rambling for me

06-20-2008, 03:45 PM	#14
Timoleon Time Enough at Last Posts: 387 Karma: 1151316 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New England Device: iPad 3, iPhone 5, Kindle 3, Fire, Sony PRS-350	Both great books, both Hugo Award winners. I actually started reading science fiction again after stumbling into "A Fire Upon The Deep." Here I am now, 3 e-book devices later and two hundred books down the line...Thanks, Vernor!

06-20-2008, 03:51 PM	#15
astrodad Guru Posts: 962 Karma: 568242 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Oasis 3, Kindle Paperwhite 1, iPad, iPhone	I've been looking for an ebook version of this for some time. Anyone know where to get it (nonDarknet)?

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