I've read a lot of science fiction over the years. I found that the story kept me engaged on one level and the science/environment kept me very engaged in a completely different way. Usually you might come across one or two interesting ideas but I felt that this book continued to put forward ideas that were almost alien to me which kept me reading and enjoying all the way through.

To the explorers, the pilgrims, the ones who are always looking to the horizon and the new grounds and different skies are calling to them. I read this book after I read the “Deepness in the sky” in search of another story of Pham Nuwen, the master programmer-at-arms, the strategist and the best Qeng Ho had to offer.

Some said that if you happen to read Fire first, the deepness would read like a tragedy unfolding. The order made no difference. Although glimpses of the fire that was Pham would burn through some parts of the book, his essence had been engulfed and restrained by God shatter throughout most of story and he stayed, up to almost the last minute, in doubt of what he was made of, which was a big loss. Still a really interesting story on “others” who are similar but different.

This book is exceptional.

Some of the sci-fi concepts it deals with are just fantastic. For example, given all of advanced human knowledge, how quickly could the technology of a medieval society be jumpstarted? Another example is the entire biology of the Tines (dog-like aliens) - super creative, realistic, and definitely something to ponder: what would it be like for multiple organisms to essentially function as a unit through ultrasonic telepathy? Great science, great fun to read.

I'm writing this review a couple years after reading the book, and I find that I don't remember the over-arching deep space plot nearly as much as the struggles that took place on the planet of the Tines. Still, the impression this book left on me makes me think it is time to revisit this entire series.

The core story was fantastic. Humans arrive on a planet inhabited by low-tech, dog-like creatures that have consciousness only in small packs. Meanwhile, a "blight" threatens all of humankind and other space-faring civilizations. The next factor in this universe is where I start to throw my hands up and say "whatever!": there are speed limits for the speed of light by which levels of technology are capped and these form zones in the universe. It all feels like a little too much to worry about vis a vis the story at hand.

How DOES Vinge come up with his characters and races!? Skroderiders and Tines. As best I can picture (image…imagine) the Tines are an entity – a pac – of 4 to 8 beings, kept together like a set of colorful ribbons tied into a bundle. Each member of the pac can go off in any given direction, but going too far or too many going at once can weaken the pac. The pac thinks individually and as a whole, and indeed getting too close to other pacs can cause a cacophony of mind sound.

Vinge describes them as dog or rat like in how they look, but I always perceived them as long (very long) necked, with small, short multi-clawed paws (arms with hands with clawed and sharp fingers) and legs like dogs and rounded heads like tennis balls, yet all coming out of one main body (like a hydra) that could separate and rejoin itself at will.

As for the Skrodenders – they seemed to be "Big Bird" like creatures, though about half the size, with fronds (long arms that also were used for communicating) and they were attached to (embedded in) scrods – contraptions that are a cross between a unicycle and a box on wheels. The scrods provide mobility and bits of added intelligence.

Pham Neuwam (aka Trinli) is back with a new set of travel companions as they stave off the Blight, rescue Jefri, Amid and Johanna in the war between Steel and Woodcarver, and cause a ripple in the Slowness.

What is the sentient being and what is sentience? What of characters so curious looking that it is simply not possible to "judge a book by its cover"? How did Vinge dream up these worlds? Are issues of science fiction the same as real life, when it comes to morals, dilemmas, and feelings? Did I mention how much I liked being in Vinge's worlds! I am so ready for the Peace War sequel!

This book is full of very interesting and, to me, new ideas.

A good sci-fi book which so nearly hits its mark. It gives possibly the most interesting concept in any science fiction with the zones of thought, and presents a wider question on the threats of higher intelligence, particularly on Artificial Intelligence. The tines race and medieval world is amazing and the best possible part of the novel. However the surrounding plot with the space travel is quite dull, and it’s a struggle to care for any characters. The writing at times seems to YA level, the news reels used to inform the reader of the wider universe is poorly done. The fantasy aspect in the tines world is great but the wider universe parts are a slog.

[Rating: 5.0/5.0]