The Sword and Laser discussion

In the announcement thread there's some question about what type of series this is -- is the first book a satisfying read on its own, or are you going to be committing to read several other doorstoppers to get a complete story. So here's a basic rundown in the order written

The Blabber - This is a short story that Vinge used as a dry run for the concepts he was developing for the series. In internal chronological order, it's actually the last piece in the series, taking place several thousand years after the events of AFutD, however Vinge realized that far more people would read the novel than would ever see this story, so he didn't try to remain consistent between them. The story still kinda fits with the rest of the series, in the same way the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie fits with the TV series. If you fall in love with the series, it's worth checking this out after AFutD, but otherwise it's not necessary.

A Fire Upon the Deep - This is a standalone novel set tens of thousands of years from now, in a distant corner of the galaxy where humans have uncorked an ancient computer virus that can take over biological brains as easily as silicon chips. There is one small loose end at the end of the story that could serve as a hook for a sequel, but otherwise all the major plotlines are tied up.

A Deepness in the Sky - A prequel to AFutD, set thousands of years in our future but still tens of thousands of years before the previous book, covering Pham Nuwen's last adventure with the Qeng Ho. The story focuses on two rival fleets that become stranded in an alien star system and have to wait for the native civilization to develop the technology they need for repairs. Because it's a prequel, it can be read independent of the rest of the series and still make sense, but reading AFutD first will put certain events in a different light.

The Children of the Sky - Many people hoped this would be the sequel that finally ties up that last loose end from AFutD, but while it is a sequel, it focuses on a completely different issue that nobody really cared about. If Vinge ever writes another book in the universe, this will serve as a necessary bridge, but for now you can ignore it without missing anything.

? - Vinge averages one book every eight years, and he's in his 70s now, so it's an open question whether he'll finish another book in the series. There's definitely room for future adventures, but if he never gets around to it, it's not like this is A Game of Thrones where readers have millions of unanswered questions.

A very good overview, though I must say I've got quite a few unanswered questions at the end of Children of the Sky, in the manic - grin/ "SO many awesome plot hooks are possible" kind of way.

Good summary Sean. I'd actually caution people who love A Fire... to not expect the others to be ANYTHING like it. I read Deepness and, while I finished it, don't recall much and have never re-read it. I do remember thinking it was fine, but nothing like the first book. I might check out The Blabber sometime.

I never moved on to reading Deepness, even though I really liked Fire, because of Pham Nuwen. I was really put off of reading another book where the universe constantly rewards him for his Randian awfulness.

Rick wrote: "Good summary Sean. I'd actually caution people who love A Fire... to not expect the others to be ANYTHING like it. I read Deepness and, while I finished it, don't recall much and have never re-read..."

Agreed. They are very different books. However, I think Deepness is every bit as good as Fire. Haven't read Children yet, but plan to get to it this year.

Rick wrote: "Good summary Sean. I'd actually caution people who love A Fire... to not expect the others to be ANYTHING like it. I read Deepness and, while I finished it, don't recall much and have never re-read..."

Weird. Most people I know think Deepness is the better of the two.

Sean wrote: "Rick wrote: "Good summary Sean. I'd actually caution people who love A Fire... to not expect the others to be ANYTHING like it. I read Deepness and, while I finished it, don't recall much and have ..."

I can see that, but my point is less about quality than the fact that they're so different.

I think the beasties in fire are more interesting than the ones in deepness, and the blight and the zones are great concepts, but deepness told a better story.

Imho Vinge is a great writer. Deepness, Fire and Children are three very different novels, but each brilliant in it's own way.

re-reading Fire makes me want to re-read Deepness, I've never read Children...

Brendan wrote: "I never moved on to reading Deepness, even though I really liked Fire, because of Pham Nuwen. I was really put off of reading another book where the universe constantly rewards him for his Randian ..."

The novel has 2 parallel stories, one about the aliens and other about the humans, and Pham Nuwen is not even the main character of the human part.
If you KNOW, you can see him here and there, but he doesn't appears in open sight till like... page 600? (of 900). He gains importance from that point on, but still the story is more of an "ensemble cast" than a "main char + supporting".

I mean, I'm still in page 750 so I can't promise you anything, but in only 150 pages he can't ruin what has been a really fun reading, right? Or maybe that's just wishful thinking xd