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Tatja Grimm #1,2,3
Il mondo di Grimm
Svir Hedrig è un giovane astronomo e, come tutti, è un entusiasta lettore della rivista Fantasie, che da settecento anni dispensa intrattenimento, storia e cultura sul suo mondo. L'incontro inatteso con l'enigmatica Tatja Grimm e la scoperta che l'unica collezione completa della mitica testata sta per essere distrutta dal tirannico Tar Benesh, reggente di Crownesse, lo spingono ad accettare con troppa leggerezza una pericolosa alleanza. Ben presto, quella che era iniziata come una nobile impresa nel nome della cultura si tramuta in una cruenta lotta per il potere a causa degli oscuri disegni di Tatja, ma il vero pericolo è forse altrove. Forse si trova fra i non meno oscuri disegni di una grande civiltà interstellare, e la tragedia scoppia per davvero con l'avvicinarsi del tempo della "raccolta" ...
Copertina di Karel Thole
Copertina di Karel Thole
150 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
19 people are currently reading
629 people want to read
About the author
Vernor Vinge
121 books2,618 followersVernor Steffen Vinge is a retired San Diego State University Professor of Mathematics, computer scientist, and science fiction author. He is best known for his Hugo Award-winning novels
A Fire Upon The Deep
(1992),
A Deepness in the Sky
(1999) and
Rainbows End
(2006), his Hugo Award-winning novellas
Fast Times at Fairmont High
(2002) and The Cookie Monster (2004), as well as for his 1993 essay "The Coming Technological Singularity", in which he argues that exponential growth in technology will reach a point beyond which we cannot even speculate about the consequences.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/vernor...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/vernor...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
March 25, 2024
Vernor Vinge ist am 22.3 dieses Jahres verstorben.
Man sollte seine anderen Bücher lesen, besonders: Feuer auf der Tiefe, Tiefe am Himmel, und ach seine Kurzgeschichten sind sehr gut.
Das Buch hier... eine zusammenstellung von drei Kruzgeschichten vor einem gemeinsamen Handlungsbogen. Sehr überhastet, würde man so ein Buch heute schreiben, es hätte 200 Seiten mehr.
...und all die Ideen in diesem Buch sind auch in seinen SF Büchern drinn, da aber besser umgsetzt.
Man sollte seine anderen Bücher lesen, besonders: Feuer auf der Tiefe, Tiefe am Himmel, und ach seine Kurzgeschichten sind sehr gut.
Das Buch hier... eine zusammenstellung von drei Kruzgeschichten vor einem gemeinsamen Handlungsbogen. Sehr überhastet, würde man so ein Buch heute schreiben, es hätte 200 Seiten mehr.
...und all die Ideen in diesem Buch sind auch in seinen SF Büchern drinn, da aber besser umgsetzt.
February 8, 2011
An interesting idea, unfortunately its potential is not fully realized by this book.
A young woman comes out of the barbarian wastes. At first she is assumed to be mentally deficient - but it soon becomes clear that she is several orders of magnitude more intelligent than anyone around her - and ruthless enough to use that intelligence to her own ends.
The material here was originally published as several separate stories featuring the character of Tatja Grimm. Unfortunately, they don't really come together as a novel. Although they work as separate stories, as a novel they're missing essential pieces of background information and other narrative elements to achieve coherency. The story brings up interesting concepts and questions, but barely explores them, leaving a reader with the impression of a tale which wants to rise above the level of a simple sci-fantasy adventure, but doesn't, quite. It's too bad, because there are many tantalizing elements here. I especially love the concept of the traveling publishing company that purveys science fiction and fantasy stories on an alien world. I really do like Vinge's writing in general - but 'A Fire Upon the Deep' this is not.
A young woman comes out of the barbarian wastes. At first she is assumed to be mentally deficient - but it soon becomes clear that she is several orders of magnitude more intelligent than anyone around her - and ruthless enough to use that intelligence to her own ends.
The material here was originally published as several separate stories featuring the character of Tatja Grimm. Unfortunately, they don't really come together as a novel. Although they work as separate stories, as a novel they're missing essential pieces of background information and other narrative elements to achieve coherency. The story brings up interesting concepts and questions, but barely explores them, leaving a reader with the impression of a tale which wants to rise above the level of a simple sci-fantasy adventure, but doesn't, quite. It's too bad, because there are many tantalizing elements here. I especially love the concept of the traveling publishing company that purveys science fiction and fantasy stories on an alien world. I really do like Vinge's writing in general - but 'A Fire Upon the Deep' this is not.
March 5, 2010
If nothing else, this book should serve as a primer in world-building for up-and-coming SF writers. Aside from that, it fits nicely into the post-New Wave, pre-Star Wars era of science fiction, which might be what takes some readers aback if they come here looking for another Fire Upon the Deep. It lacks the epic scope of the books that made Vinge famous, but it makes up for it in sheer pulpy goodness.
"Pulpy" is doubly apt, since the planet Tu on which the book takes place is a metal-poor world where humanity has had to adapt using ceramics and wood for everything. The first half of the book is set on a giant traveling publishing barge that sails the oceans of the planet and sells, among other things, a speculative fiction pulp mag called Fantasie. I was afraid at first that this was going to turn into another of those "writer writes about writing" things, but it's really not. The barge picks up a feral savage from the wilderness named Tatja Grimm who turns out to be a godling learning in leaps and bounds about the world around her.
"Pulpy" is doubly apt, since the planet Tu on which the book takes place is a metal-poor world where humanity has had to adapt using ceramics and wood for everything. The first half of the book is set on a giant traveling publishing barge that sails the oceans of the planet and sells, among other things, a speculative fiction pulp mag called Fantasie. I was afraid at first that this was going to turn into another of those "writer writes about writing" things, but it's really not. The barge picks up a feral savage from the wilderness named Tatja Grimm who turns out to be a godling learning in leaps and bounds about the world around her.
July 23, 2016
Su un mondo alieno strano e affascinante si incontrano Svir, studente di astronomia, e Tatja, che si occupa della collana scientifica della più potente casa editrice del pianeta. Svir è un po' ingenuo e Tatja è bellissima, oltre che dotata di un'intelligenza superiore alla media, così non le riesce difficile usare Svir per portare avanti i suoi piani, il cui fine è nientemeno che la disperata ricerca di un uomo alla sua altezza. Quando però Tatja lo troverà, scoprirà che i suoi fini potrebbero non essere esattamente ciò che lei desidera.
Vinge ha messo decisamente troppa carne al fuoco, così facendo si è perso per strada moltissimi spunti. In realtà il romanzo smette di essere davvero interessante quando è chiaro che la meravigliose costruzione letteraria che è l'isola galleggiante-casa editrice non sarà l'ambientazione definitiva della storia. Tutto il resto è piuttosto tirato per i capelli.
Tradizione con parecchi svarioni in perfetto stile Urania.
Vinge ha messo decisamente troppa carne al fuoco, così facendo si è perso per strada moltissimi spunti. In realtà il romanzo smette di essere davvero interessante quando è chiaro che la meravigliose costruzione letteraria che è l'isola galleggiante-casa editrice non sarà l'ambientazione definitiva della storia. Tutto il resto è piuttosto tirato per i capelli.
Tradizione con parecchi svarioni in perfetto stile Urania.
February 11, 2016
Svir Hedrigs was at a table sitting alone with Ancho, his pet dorfox, lamenting another solitary evening, his last for awhile in Krirsarque. In the midst of these thoughts a striking woman sits next to him. His hopes are dashed when three men also join his table. When they introduce themselves he recognizes the names as first proofreader, editor and ship's captain of his favorite magazine Fantasie. Fat chance, he thinks, but then they show him a new issue. He is star struck.
The conversation leads to the last remaining complete collection of Fantasie. Which is soon to be destroyed in some holiday ritual by Tar Benesh, the regent of Crownesse. Tatja Grimm asks Svir to come with them on the immense Tarulle Barge to save the collection. He was headed to Bayfast anyway, it would be great to see how the magazine is published. It's not until they are docked on the continent that he starts having second thoughts of risking his life to save some magazines. By they Tatja has given him another reason to comply. The end of the fist novella was very clever.
Skip forward four years. One of the provinces of Crownesse is rebelling. Led by a man named Proforio. Tatja thinks he may be a man from the stars and wants to not just stop the rebellion but capture this man. When she leads her troops to the area she finds another man from the stars there. Jolle tells her that the planet is a breeding ground to create golems and that he has been sent to stop Proforio.
The opening of the story is great. Without stopping the action you get the sense of the world. How it's metal poor, much travel is by boat, the level of technology, etc. Fantasie is a world wide magazine but it is often two years between when one set of issues arrive and the next time the barge is in port again. The battle scenes and climax get a bit confusing, thankfully Tatja comes to Svir and explains what has happened.
The first novella is excellent. The rest of the book is good. At only 176 pages it goes fast.
The conversation leads to the last remaining complete collection of Fantasie. Which is soon to be destroyed in some holiday ritual by Tar Benesh, the regent of Crownesse. Tatja Grimm asks Svir to come with them on the immense Tarulle Barge to save the collection. He was headed to Bayfast anyway, it would be great to see how the magazine is published. It's not until they are docked on the continent that he starts having second thoughts of risking his life to save some magazines. By they Tatja has given him another reason to comply. The end of the fist novella was very clever.
Skip forward four years. One of the provinces of Crownesse is rebelling. Led by a man named Proforio. Tatja thinks he may be a man from the stars and wants to not just stop the rebellion but capture this man. When she leads her troops to the area she finds another man from the stars there. Jolle tells her that the planet is a breeding ground to create golems and that he has been sent to stop Proforio.
The opening of the story is great. Without stopping the action you get the sense of the world. How it's metal poor, much travel is by boat, the level of technology, etc. Fantasie is a world wide magazine but it is often two years between when one set of issues arrive and the next time the barge is in port again. The battle scenes and climax get a bit confusing, thankfully Tatja comes to Svir and explains what has happened.
The first novella is excellent. The rest of the book is good. At only 176 pages it goes fast.
January 26, 2011
After reading Deepness in the Sky and Fire Upon the Deep, I had some very high expectations for this book. It was good, but it would take an incredible book to live up to the standard set by Deepness in the Sky. This was a small, well though out story, that was very nicely contained and had just the right blend of characters and ideas. By "characters and ideas" I mean the literary part of the story - the character development and the actual story itself, the prose, and all that hifalutin kind of stuff, and the science part - the essential differences between the world of the story and the real world, the cool gadgets, and the aliens, of course. These are the two essential ingredients of any sci-fi story. You can't ignore either one, and you can't totally devote the book to either one. This story did a good job balancing the two, but it somehow still didn't knock my socks off. It struck me as better than average, but not amazing.
August 29, 2009
Even on a bad day, Vinge's writing and worldbuilding and creativity is far and away superior to other sci-fi authors, including two recent books I've read (*cough* Ben Bova and Kevin Anderson *cough*). So I don't want to pick on this book too much because I think that even a bad story by Vinge is worth reading, and this is not a bad story by any means. My first criticism was going to be that the storytelling feels choppy, then I find out it was written as three separate novellas, only recently published together. Ah, that explains why the first part seemed so familiar - I think I've read it before in an anthology of his short stories. It also explains the lack of segue between part 1 and part 2. But having said that, the suspenseful ending and the explanation of why Tatja Grimm's world is the way it is makes up for shortcomings in the first two parts.
July 29, 2019
I've had a copy of this for years. But, was always scared-off by the reviews. However, it is actually better than you would think. There are just a couple things I would change.
First, the plot summary gives away important information from the first "book" (first third of the novel). That third is the best of the three parts, in my opinion, and shouldn't have been spoiled.
Second, so much of the filler-text mentions a cosmological feature of the setting that that feature should play a part in the resolution of the novel. It doesn't and I feel short-changed.
I would trade the 450 pages of The Children of the Sky for another two parts of Tatji Grimm's world.
First, the plot summary gives away important information from the first "book" (first third of the novel). That third is the best of the three parts, in my opinion, and shouldn't have been spoiled.
Second, so much of the filler-text mentions a cosmological feature of the setting that that feature should play a part in the resolution of the novel. It doesn't and I feel short-changed.
I would trade the 450 pages of The Children of the Sky for another two parts of Tatji Grimm's world.
April 8, 2010
An interesting book that explores the nature versus nurture issue. A pubescent girl appears at a publishers barge and is 'trained' to play a part in what could be described as a marketing ploy. She is a quick learner and soon has control of the barge to further her own purposes while enriching the company.
September 30, 2017
A very good story.
This book has a very well developed world. Seems like a shame that it's a one shot. The story is a sort of who dunnit. My favorite bit is a scene where the girl takes off fake boobs and the guy immediately is able to think clearly and falls out of love with her.
This book has a very well developed world. Seems like a shame that it's a one shot. The story is a sort of who dunnit. My favorite bit is a scene where the girl takes off fake boobs and the guy immediately is able to think clearly and falls out of love with her.
September 11, 2008
A cool story about a Nietzschean ubermensch (uberdame?). It didn't fully deliver on everything, but I enjoyed reading it.
October 28, 2009
Vinge has yet to disappoint. Somewhere between the "really good" of his time-travel stuff, and the "mind-blowingly fantastic" of Fire Upon the Deep and Deepness in the Sky.
June 5, 2015
1986 grade B- (second read)
The book has an almost classic tragic ending. The protagonist does live and will be cured but readers do not see the cure.
The book has an almost classic tragic ending. The protagonist does live and will be cured but readers do not see the cure.
September 21, 2017
It feels like Vinge learning to write. This is a good early book with the Vinge mark evident but certainly not up the the fantastic later novels
August 18, 2018
Excellent world building. Quick and fun.
February 22, 2025
I picked up this novel in my pursuit of reading science fiction authors I'd never read before. Vernor Vinge is apparently a big deal, though I'd never heard of him.
My thoughts:
The novel reads like very complex and intricately planned pulp fiction. Vinge does an awe-inspiring amount of world building based upon speculative science fiction; i.e., what would a world be like if humans settled on an earth-like planet that had no metal? How would their culture and civilization advance if they revered things like a science fiction magazine and treated it like scripture? Or if a religion revolved around astronomy? What would a war be like if people fought at 20,000 feet of altitude using strange pack animals and plastic artillery but lacked firearms? His warfare, governments, and cultures were very hashed out.
Sometimes interesting, sometimes fun, largely forgettable.
My thoughts:
The novel reads like very complex and intricately planned pulp fiction. Vinge does an awe-inspiring amount of world building based upon speculative science fiction; i.e., what would a world be like if humans settled on an earth-like planet that had no metal? How would their culture and civilization advance if they revered things like a science fiction magazine and treated it like scripture? Or if a religion revolved around astronomy? What would a war be like if people fought at 20,000 feet of altitude using strange pack animals and plastic artillery but lacked firearms? His warfare, governments, and cultures were very hashed out.
Sometimes interesting, sometimes fun, largely forgettable.
July 19, 2024
📚 Tatja, seorang gadis muda yang tumbuh di dunia primitif. Dia merasa berbeda dari orang-orang di sekelilingnya karena rasa ingin tahunya yang besar.
Suatu hari, Tatja menemukan sebuah majalah fiksi ilmiah tua bernama Fantasie. Majalah ini diproduksi di sebuah kapal raksasa yang mengapung di langit & penuh dengan teknologi canggih. Meski begitu, Tatja merasa orang-orang di kapal itu tidak lebih pintar dari orang-orang di tempat asalnya.
Kemudian, Tatja bertemu dengan orang-orang baru yang datang dari luar angkasa. Mereka tidak hanya menantang kecerdasannya tetapi juga memberi kesempatan untuk memecahkan misteri-misteri yang telah lama mengganggu pikirannya. Namun, kesempatan ini juga membawa risiko besar. Tatja harus berhati-hati agar tidak membuat keputusan yang bisa menghancurkan dunia yang dia cintai.
🕵️♀️ Dalam novel ini, kapal tersebut disebut sebagai "The Great Ship," yang berfungsi sebagai pusat budaya & pengetahuan. Deskripsi tentang kapal & teknologi di dalamnya terasa unik & menarik ❤️
Tatja Grimm adalah karakter yang kompleks dengan rasa ingin tahu yang mendalam. Dia merasa terinspirasi & tertantang untuk menjelajahi lebih jauh. Perjuangannya untuk memahami dunia & keinginannya untuk memecahkan misteri yang ada itu aku suka banget 😂
Konflik utama dalam novel ini adalah antara teknologi canggih & kebodohan orang-orang di sekitar Tatja 🔥Tatja menghadapi berbagai tantangan yang memaksanya untuk mencari jawaban & memahami dirinya sendiri.
Namun, ada bab yang panjang tentang sejarah & detail teknologi kapal yang membuat aku merasa terlalu banyak informasi & mengganggu alur cerita.
Kemudian, karakter-karakter lain di sekitar Tatja, seperti orang-orang di kapal besar & pengunjung dari luar angkasa, juga sering kali kurang digali dalam hal kedalaman karakternya. Mereka lebih sering berfungsi sebagai latar belakang untuk pengembangan Tatja daripada sebagai individu yang berkembang sendiri.
Suatu hari, Tatja menemukan sebuah majalah fiksi ilmiah tua bernama Fantasie. Majalah ini diproduksi di sebuah kapal raksasa yang mengapung di langit & penuh dengan teknologi canggih. Meski begitu, Tatja merasa orang-orang di kapal itu tidak lebih pintar dari orang-orang di tempat asalnya.
Kemudian, Tatja bertemu dengan orang-orang baru yang datang dari luar angkasa. Mereka tidak hanya menantang kecerdasannya tetapi juga memberi kesempatan untuk memecahkan misteri-misteri yang telah lama mengganggu pikirannya. Namun, kesempatan ini juga membawa risiko besar. Tatja harus berhati-hati agar tidak membuat keputusan yang bisa menghancurkan dunia yang dia cintai.
🕵️♀️ Dalam novel ini, kapal tersebut disebut sebagai "The Great Ship," yang berfungsi sebagai pusat budaya & pengetahuan. Deskripsi tentang kapal & teknologi di dalamnya terasa unik & menarik ❤️
Tatja Grimm adalah karakter yang kompleks dengan rasa ingin tahu yang mendalam. Dia merasa terinspirasi & tertantang untuk menjelajahi lebih jauh. Perjuangannya untuk memahami dunia & keinginannya untuk memecahkan misteri yang ada itu aku suka banget 😂
Konflik utama dalam novel ini adalah antara teknologi canggih & kebodohan orang-orang di sekitar Tatja 🔥Tatja menghadapi berbagai tantangan yang memaksanya untuk mencari jawaban & memahami dirinya sendiri.
Namun, ada bab yang panjang tentang sejarah & detail teknologi kapal yang membuat aku merasa terlalu banyak informasi & mengganggu alur cerita.
Kemudian, karakter-karakter lain di sekitar Tatja, seperti orang-orang di kapal besar & pengunjung dari luar angkasa, juga sering kali kurang digali dalam hal kedalaman karakternya. Mereka lebih sering berfungsi sebagai latar belakang untuk pengembangan Tatja daripada sebagai individu yang berkembang sendiri.
October 6, 2025
La Compagnia di Taroulle naviga per i Mari di Tu e pubblica da 700 anni la rivista "Fantasie", che negli ultimi anni si è specializzata in fantascienza, in concomitanza con l'incremento dello sviluppo tecnologico. Tatja Grimm, una ragazza selvaggia ma con qualcosa di misterioso che pare guidarla, viene trovata dagli editori e accolta nella "ditta". Ma Tatja Grimm, oltre a essere selvaggia, è anche brillante: fa carriera e si muove alla conquista del mondo.
"Il mondo di Grimm" ("Tatja Grimm’s World", 1987 - ampliamento di "Grimm’s Story", 1969; Urania Mondadori, 2015; trad. di Annarita Guarnieri) di Vernor Vinge si rifà ai classici planetary romance, con digressioni su quanto scienza e fantascienza siano correlati e spingano il progresso necessario per superare l'interpretazione "magica" di un mondo che necessita di progredire. Alla fine la storia, se vogliamo un po' eterogenea nella tre parti in cui è suddivisa, si rivela essere molto più ampia e Tatja Grimm, che sembra quasi una semi-divinità, dovrà opporsi a un suo omologo che ha intenzioni ostili verso l'intera popolazione del pianeta.
"Il mondo di Grimm" ("Tatja Grimm’s World", 1987 - ampliamento di "Grimm’s Story", 1969; Urania Mondadori, 2015; trad. di Annarita Guarnieri) di Vernor Vinge si rifà ai classici planetary romance, con digressioni su quanto scienza e fantascienza siano correlati e spingano il progresso necessario per superare l'interpretazione "magica" di un mondo che necessita di progredire. Alla fine la storia, se vogliamo un po' eterogenea nella tre parti in cui è suddivisa, si rivela essere molto più ampia e Tatja Grimm, che sembra quasi una semi-divinità, dovrà opporsi a un suo omologo che ha intenzioni ostili verso l'intera popolazione del pianeta.
September 21, 2021
I think Vinge writes well bu there are a few problems with conveying the story.
There seems to be a distinct lack of spatial awareness, and through lack of adequate background description some of the actions of the participants seem impossible. How could X see the action happening at Y? How could X reach Z in X time?
I also found a few puzzling chapters ends where limited descriptions in the cliff hangers left me more curious about what on earth is happening rather than be taken away by the jeopardy that Vinge was trying to create by hanging his protagonists off the cliff in the first place.
The story is quite clever, being a semi-steam punky world with more promised beyond.
Is this world continued elsewhere? In a market with so many ghreat books and authors still unread from nearly 100 years of Sci-fi, I think VV is not going to compete for my limited time on earth.
SO this will be the only VV book I shall read.
I'd give it 3.9 stars, not quite a 4, and only people like Asimov can get a five.
There seems to be a distinct lack of spatial awareness, and through lack of adequate background description some of the actions of the participants seem impossible. How could X see the action happening at Y? How could X reach Z in X time?
I also found a few puzzling chapters ends where limited descriptions in the cliff hangers left me more curious about what on earth is happening rather than be taken away by the jeopardy that Vinge was trying to create by hanging his protagonists off the cliff in the first place.
The story is quite clever, being a semi-steam punky world with more promised beyond.
Is this world continued elsewhere? In a market with so many ghreat books and authors still unread from nearly 100 years of Sci-fi, I think VV is not going to compete for my limited time on earth.
SO this will be the only VV book I shall read.
I'd give it 3.9 stars, not quite a 4, and only people like Asimov can get a five.
February 5, 2020
This is a very different style of novel compared to Vernor Vinge's more well-known books (A Fire Upon the Deep, Rainbow's End, or Across Realtime). Rather than a near-future or far-future technopia, this is almost a low fantasy novel. The ideas are interesting and the world is inventive,
but it only gets two stars due to its failings as a story.
The "protagonist," Svir, doesn't show up until 20% of the way into the book, and is only a minor character for much of the story. The plot is driven by the choices of the titular Tatja Grimm, rather than Svir's. Although her name is on the title, and although she is a main character, the point of view and the (limited) emotional arc of the story don't involve her. Similarly, the "antagonist," such as he is, doesn't show up until 60% of the way through. Before that, there isn't even a hint that there is an antagonist, or a story problem that needs to be resolved.
but it only gets two stars due to its failings as a story.
The "protagonist," Svir, doesn't show up until 20% of the way into the book, and is only a minor character for much of the story. The plot is driven by the choices of the titular Tatja Grimm, rather than Svir's. Although her name is on the title, and although she is a main character, the point of view and the (limited) emotional arc of the story don't involve her. Similarly, the "antagonist," such as he is, doesn't show up until 60% of the way through. Before that, there isn't even a hint that there is an antagonist, or a story problem that needs to be resolved.
November 23, 2024
One of the author's earlier now classic works. Set in a world on the verge of modern science and technology. And initially on a large barge travelling about publishing and selling books. A strange barbarian girl arrives from the interior. Awkward at first and 'primitive' but with an astonishing level of intelligence. It doesn't take her long to catch up and not long after that she's taken over. Globally. She has many goals, amongst them developing a space program driven by the desire to find somebody smart enough to talk to at her level. Ah we all feel like that from time to time. But be careful what you wish for.
All told in lavish detail. With the author's characteristic brilliance. My only complaint is that it gets a bit thin and rushed at the end. As if he was bored with it and just wanted to be done with it. I would have loved a few more chapters.
All told in lavish detail. With the author's characteristic brilliance. My only complaint is that it gets a bit thin and rushed at the end. As if he was bored with it and just wanted to be done with it. I would have loved a few more chapters.
May 23, 2018
I didn't really enjoy this book. The world-building was kinda interesting, but the whole this-is-an- alien-from-another-world-who-is-much-more-intelligent thing kinda fell flat for me.
There are several stories that are tied together by the characters and the setting, but otherwise they don't really have much to do with each other.
I normally like Vernon Vinge. This one just didn't work for me.
There are several stories that are tied together by the characters and the setting, but otherwise they don't really have much to do with each other.
I normally like Vernon Vinge. This one just didn't work for me.
December 25, 2017
I love Vinge's work in A Deepness upon the Sky and A Fire upon the Deep. Tata Grimm, however, lacks the adventure and endearing characters. No one lives up to Pham Nuwen or the Skrode Riders here. All the same, Vinge's technique in Tatja of withholding key information does make this a real page turner!
May 5, 2025
3⭐️ A Good Book/Unexceptional
This book offers an engaging read. While Vinge tackles ambitious themes, the rapid pacing sometimes overshadows their development. Nevertheless, I recommend this book to those who enjoy light science fiction.
Favorite Quote: "Those magazines aren't worth dying for." - Coronadas Ascuasenya, Grimm's World
This book offers an engaging read. While Vinge tackles ambitious themes, the rapid pacing sometimes overshadows their development. Nevertheless, I recommend this book to those who enjoy light science fiction.
Favorite Quote: "Those magazines aren't worth dying for." - Coronadas Ascuasenya, Grimm's World
January 14, 2019
Slightly all over the place. Can't decide if it is space opera or pulp SF. Some of the ideas are good, but not expressed too clearly, and the characterisation is inconsistent, perhaps because it seems it may have been originally written as several linked short stories.
January 7, 2023
His debut novel. I just reread "The Barbarian Princess" (1986), which he recycled into the beginning of the revised edition, and it's first rate. I should reread the novel. Wonder if I still have a copy?
June 13, 2023
If captain Amelia had a book series, it would be this one! The main pirate/captain/historian leads her way through a war that leaves her right hand man questioning everything.
It's very streampunk and futuristic
It's very streampunk and futuristic
December 26, 2021
Vinge is always a wonderful author, and this book contained some very interesting thoughts. It is not, however, his best work.
January 8, 2022
Only read the first story.
November 23, 2025
To begin, the edition I read is simply titled "Grimm's World" and was published in 1969. It does not contain the origin story featuring a young Tatja that many reviewers mention (I believe that was added on much later). The narrative starts with Svir sitting at a table with his pet dorfox, and covers Tatja's manipulative rise to the throne with the indirect aid of said animal. Then time skips ahead four years, and Svir is still her clueless pawn. There's some vague war; a means to an end for Tatja's true aim of momentarily commandeering an elevated telescope...
I regret not DNF-ing this irksome little tome. I was immediately put off by the fictionalized fantasy (and science fiction) magazine, Fantasy (but misspelled), printed for 700 years aboard a mobile printing press barge traversing an ocean planet. I can't stand that sort of thing. It's bad enough when authors write about their own, but this pushes it a step further. At the time of its original serialization, do you really think the average reader enjoyed this self-referential waste of their time? The magazine was fanboy Svir's initial motivation. The lifeless telescope at the end is more of a protagonist than he (or Tatja).
According to one reviewer, it's a lesson in worldbuilding, if nothing else. I find the notion laughable, considering how terribly vague the writing was, with all the random place names and governments that weren't properly introduced. There's minimal exposition, and even then, it's too little too late. I couldn't visualize a thing, and sat uncomprehendingly through the majority of the second half, unable to follow the "action". As is, I'm missing even the most basic plot details concerning Tatja and those other two guys. It was unclear as to why Tatja was on the planet, what she even was, and how/why human beings were "slaughtered" and turned into robots (it doesn't make a lick of sense). The author gives us no reason to care, and in the end, we're left as oblivious as Svir (if not more so).
This little excerpt ought to sum it up:
"'Well, then what does he want to kill us for?'
Jolle spoke a single word. 'Golems.'
Svir looked blank.
Jolle stared at the three of them for a moment. Then he spoke to Tatja. 'There's really only one of you, right?'
She nodded. 'Yes, and I've looked.'
'Tough,' Jolle commiserated. He waved at Cor and Svir, and Tatja replied, 'Fingers.'
'Hmm,' said Jolle, 'perhaps I should have, too.'
'But surrogate pain. Is there?'
'No. Ten trillion. Human too.' He nodded. 'You're it and foxily burnt.'
Tatja smiled shyly.
Svir's jaw dropped. What were they talking about?"
...
Bafflingly, the word "artillery" was shortened to "art'ry" for absolutely no reason (other four-syllable words were left unaltered). Whenever it came up (which was often), I'd have to mentally correct it to artillery; I refuse to do otherwise. This sort of extreme contraction randomly crops up in science fiction, and it's never a good thing. Try saying it aloud and you'll quickly realize how stupid it sounds.
...
Not pretty, huh?:
"Tatja Grimm was certainly not pretty: she was beautiful, beautiful in an especially wonderful way." (p. 6)
-
"Tatja shook her pretty head." (p. 23)
...
Early Typos (I'm sure there were more, but I had to shut off my brain for most of the book):
"The others wre similarly confused." (p. 24)
-
"In one twenty-minute period he made then laugh and cry." (p. 25)
...
Use of "loom" (verb): 1
Uses of "here and there": 2+ (?)
...
2/10
I regret not DNF-ing this irksome little tome. I was immediately put off by the fictionalized fantasy (and science fiction) magazine, Fantasy (but misspelled), printed for 700 years aboard a mobile printing press barge traversing an ocean planet. I can't stand that sort of thing. It's bad enough when authors write about their own, but this pushes it a step further. At the time of its original serialization, do you really think the average reader enjoyed this self-referential waste of their time? The magazine was fanboy Svir's initial motivation. The lifeless telescope at the end is more of a protagonist than he (or Tatja).
According to one reviewer, it's a lesson in worldbuilding, if nothing else. I find the notion laughable, considering how terribly vague the writing was, with all the random place names and governments that weren't properly introduced. There's minimal exposition, and even then, it's too little too late. I couldn't visualize a thing, and sat uncomprehendingly through the majority of the second half, unable to follow the "action". As is, I'm missing even the most basic plot details concerning Tatja and those other two guys. It was unclear as to why Tatja was on the planet, what she even was, and how/why human beings were "slaughtered" and turned into robots (it doesn't make a lick of sense). The author gives us no reason to care, and in the end, we're left as oblivious as Svir (if not more so).
This little excerpt ought to sum it up:
"'Well, then what does he want to kill us for?'
Jolle spoke a single word. 'Golems.'
Svir looked blank.
Jolle stared at the three of them for a moment. Then he spoke to Tatja. 'There's really only one of you, right?'
She nodded. 'Yes, and I've looked.'
'Tough,' Jolle commiserated. He waved at Cor and Svir, and Tatja replied, 'Fingers.'
'Hmm,' said Jolle, 'perhaps I should have, too.'
'But surrogate pain. Is there?'
'No. Ten trillion. Human too.' He nodded. 'You're it and foxily burnt.'
Tatja smiled shyly.
Svir's jaw dropped. What were they talking about?"
...
Bafflingly, the word "artillery" was shortened to "art'ry" for absolutely no reason (other four-syllable words were left unaltered). Whenever it came up (which was often), I'd have to mentally correct it to artillery; I refuse to do otherwise. This sort of extreme contraction randomly crops up in science fiction, and it's never a good thing. Try saying it aloud and you'll quickly realize how stupid it sounds.
...
Not pretty, huh?:
"Tatja Grimm was certainly not pretty: she was beautiful, beautiful in an especially wonderful way." (p. 6)
-
"Tatja shook her pretty head." (p. 23)
...
Early Typos (I'm sure there were more, but I had to shut off my brain for most of the book):
"The others wre similarly confused." (p. 24)
-
"In one twenty-minute period he made then laugh and cry." (p. 25)
...
Use of "loom" (verb): 1
Uses of "here and there": 2+ (?)
...
2/10
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