See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

7 used & new from £3.11

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
A Deepness in the Sky
 
 

A Deepness in the Sky (Hardcover)

by Vernor Vinge (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


1 new from £107.96 6 used from £3.11

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

A Fire Upon The Deep (Gollancz S.F.)

A Fire Upon The Deep (Gollancz S.F.)

by Vernor Vinge
Across Realtime

Across Realtime

by Vernor Vinge
Rainbows End

Rainbows End

by Vernor Vinge
3.3 out of 5 stars (9)  £5.49
Spin

Spin

by Robert Charles Wilson
4.4 out of 5 stars (9)  £7.99
Old Man's War

Old Man's War

by John Scalzi
4.2 out of 5 stars (38)  £4.19
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Hardcover: 606 pages
  • Publisher: Gollancz (24 Jun 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1857988256
  • ISBN-13: 978-1857988253
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 902,791 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #21 in  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > V > Vinge, Vernor

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
This hefty novel returns to the universe of Vernor Vinge's 1973 Hugo winner A Fire Upon the Deep--but 30,000 years earlier. It has the same sense of epic vastness despite happening mostly in one isolated solar system. Here there's a world of intelligent spider- creatures who traditionally hibernate through the "Deepest Darkness" of their strange variable sun's long "off" periods, when even the atmosphere freezes. Now science offers them an alternative. Meanwhile, attracted by spider radio transmissions, two human starfleets come exploring: merchants hoping for customers, and tyrants who want slaves. Their inevitable clash leaves only crippled remnants of both fleets, with power in the wrong hands, leading to a long wait in space until the spiders develop exploitable technology. Over the years Vinge builds compelling tension through multiple storylines and characters. In the sky, hopes of rebellion against tyranny continue despite soothing lies, brutal repression and a mental bondage that can convert people into literal tools. Down below, the engagingly sympathetic spiders have their own problems. In flashback, we see the grandiose ideals and ultimate betrayal of the merchant culture's founder, now among the human contingent and pretending to be a senile buffoon while plotting, plotting. Major revelations, ironies and payoffs follow. A powerful story in the grandest SF tradition. -- David Langford

Product Description
This is science fiction on the grandest of scales - a cast of thousands set across hundreds of years and in the farthest reaches of Human Space. A prequel to his earlier novel A FIRE UPON THE DEEP, this new novel is epic in scope and a thoroughly riveting read. Ezr Vinh is a member of one of the largest and most powerful clans within the Qeng Ho - the Qeng Ho are a race apart, traders whose nation is space, whose very reason for living is finding the outposts of fallen civilisations, waiting for them to claw themselves back to a point where they are able to be of use and then taking them for all they are worth. But nicely. The Emergents have dragged themselves back from the brink of ruin, taking on board as much of Qeng Ho tradition as they need to make deals of their own. But their methods are brutal and ruthless. A DEEPNESS IN THE SKY is the story of Ezr Vinh and Thomas Nau, an Emergent Podmaster, and the compromises they have to make in order to survive at the limits of the universe as they sit in wait for the spider citizens of Arachna. Waiting for the new sun to wake Arachna to a new atomic age...

See all Product Description

Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?


 

Customer Reviews

20 Reviews
5 star:
 (13)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, 30 Oct 2007
By Susan W (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Deepness in the Sky (Paperback)
I found this book impossible to put down. The development of the characters, the evil podmasters, Pham Nuwen, the Spider society - it was all fascinating. I've read many sci-fi books and this is one I highly recommend. Gotta say, the podmasters ethics seem strangely familiar - Reminds me of some of the politicians these days! Overall, if you like a real sweeping epic, this is the book for you.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and absorbing, 31 Jan 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: A Deepness in the Sky (Paperback)
Unlike some of the other reviewers, I found this book almost impossible to put down - I certainly enjoyed it more than Across Realtime, and possibly more than A Fire Upon the Deep.

The storylines about the humans are all the more enthralling because these are characters you come to care about, and they're in a very sticky situation indeed. The way that the bad guys mess with their victims' minds and literally integrate them into their computer systems is chilling and memorable...

The spider-beings are another example of Vinge's greatness at inventing aliens. It's true that their society and actions are couched in human terms, but that made them all the more understandable without glossing over their alienness.

It did take a fair few pages to get me hooked, though. If you're looking for something that will grip you from page one, this might not be for you...

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Accomplished and absorbing., 27 Nov 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: A Deepness in the Sky (Paperback)
This is another example of Vernor Vinge's imaginative exploration of alternative alien psyche, while at the same time investigating the darkness of "human" interactions and exploitation on a grand scale. I found both plots gripping to the end.

Perhaps it was a mistake to market this as related to A Fire Upon the Deep in any way; there are only tenuous cross-references and a reader hoping to "learn more" from this prequel will be disappointed. Rather, the story should be treated as an excellent - and involving - yarn in its own right.

The spider-analog aliens do have particularly human emotions. I thought that was the point. In the course of reading this you will develop genuine empathy for creatures most would find otherwise physically repugnant.

The plot follows a complex path alternating between human and spider-analog themes and the competition of rival factions within each. The crescendo is the final coming-together. Personally I found the development and conclusion highly imaginative and very rewarding.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Space Opera at its Best
If you are a Sci-Fi fan or even new to the genre then I highly recommend this book. Vernor Vinge is an accomplished writer and able to bring the science to life with his... Read more
Published on 8 May 2006 by A. Gothorp

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic
This is book is every bit as brillant as A Fire Upon The Deep, don't let the moaners put you off. VV may not have written many books but when the quality is a good as this you can... Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2005 by Hilarity Unit

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
A superb book that i just couldn't put down. It is certainly the best of Vinges' work. An imaginative storyline, easy to read and with original 'aliens' - like the tines in A... Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2004 by daiwitherden

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as A fire upon the Deep - but still worthwhile!
The end is too long, plot seems to be stretched out a bit too much. But I love the Spider-world and everything in it. Readeable
Published on 20 Aug 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic story
I haven't yet read 'Fire upon the Deep', so I can't compare this to it, but it is certainly up there with the best full-on space operas I have ever read, e.g. Read more
Published on 22 Jul 2001

1.0 out of 5 stars Crashing disappointment
Humph. After the pyrotechnic brilliance and multiple plot strands of 'A Fire Upon the Deep' I was left panting for this sequel, especially when I heard of its fascinating premise... Read more
Published on 17 May 2001

2.0 out of 5 stars disappointing
After reading "A Fire Upon the Deep" by the same author I must say that "A Deepness in the Sky" is extraordinarily disappointing. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Just when you thought....
I approached this formidable tome with some trepidation.....would it be worth the commitment.... It was. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2001 by Joseph B. Tay Teck

2.0 out of 5 stars A Deepness in my attention span
Ok. Coming from a very much SCI-FI readership background I picked up this book with every intention of enjoying it. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2000 by R. B. Powell

5.0 out of 5 stars A sci-fi classic
This is one of those books that only comes along occasionally. It is monumental, fascinating in terms of the faceted-perspective narrative, and deeply challenging in its... Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2000 by grimlyfiendish

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Look for similar items by subject







i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback


Fun for Everyone

Christmas Gifts
Achieve over 15,000 RPM with our great range of Powerballs.

Shop the Powerball store

 

Let Olay Amaze You

Olay Total Effects Day Moisturiser SPF15 50ml
Amazon.co.uk sells all your favourite ranges from Olay, including Regenerist and Total Effects.

Discover Olay at Amazon.co.uk

 

Up to 53% off Braun Series Shavers

Braun Series 3 390cc Clean & Renew System Rechargeable Foil Electric Shaver
Get in touch with your smooth side with Braun Series shavers, now with Gillette blade technology.

Discover Braun Series at Amazon.co.uk

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates