A research laboratory at the edge of the galaxy accidentally releases an ancient evil, called Blight, capable of destroying the whole galaxy. Before the laboratory's destruction, two researchers manage to send a countermeasure towards the galaxy's interior, and the race is on to reach the world it has landed on.

Vinge introduces here his Zones of Thought: the further you go from the galaxy's center, the better artificial intelligences can you build. The concept is kind of hokey, but as a Singularity-believer, Vinge needs something to prevent humans from attaining transcendence in the next few decades. The plot is driven by the Zones, so the reader needs to believe in them from the book to work. Meh, I accepted them as the one impossible thing of this book.

The book has two parallel narratives: one on the “good guys” trying to acquire transportation inwards while the Blight conquers areas behind and around them, and one on the world where the countermeasure has landed. The chase through space was not that captivating, but there are a number of interesting points around it. What really makes this book are the happenings on the world of Tines, which is an extremely interesting alien species. The adventures of the two children, on opposite sides of a eugenics-motivated civil war, just kept me reading and wanting more.

There isn't really any deeper meaning to this book. It's just a straightforward, but well-written space adventure with some grand ideas and great aliens.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Given to erpax as a Monopoly prize. Nice to meet you again!

First you just enjoy playing well-organized Monopoly, and then you get absolutely excellent books for playing it. Many thanks, VariC! I appreciate this book a lot.

* Kirjoitan tähän sitten jotain, kun taas unohdan kylväväni kaikki tekstit täyteen a-the-also -virheitä ja kun jaksan taas yleensä kirjoittaa jotain... :/

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Jokunen viikko ehti vierähtää, mutta nyt kirja pääsi matkaan. Kiitos vielä VariC:lle ja huimia lukuhetkiä kasenkalle!

Thank you erpax for this wish list book surprise!

I sent this book yesterday to Thalasse who will release it at Finncon 2014.

The book is here! I have read this already when it was translated into Finnish, and I agree with VariC: great space opera with grand ideas and great aliens.

The book will be released at Finncon 2014. Happy reading!