Vernor Vinge Books

Vinge's masterpieces together at last, in one epic volume.

The Hugo and John W. Campbell Memorial Award-winning prequel to the magnificent A FIRE UPON THE DEEP.

Alternate Cover Edition can be found here. A Fire upon the Deep is the big, breakout book that fulfills the promise of Vinge's career to date: a gripping tale of galactic war told on a cosmic scale.Thousands of years hence, many races inhabit a universe where a mind's potential is determined by its location in space, from superintelligent entities in the Transcend, to the limited minds of the Unthinking Depths, where only simple creatures and technology can function. Nobody knows what strange force partitioned space into these "regions of thought," but when the warring Straumli realm use an ancient Transcendent artifact as a weapon, they unwittingly unleash an awesome power that destroys thousands of worlds and enslaves all natural and artificial intelligence.Fleeing the threat, a family of scientists, including two children, are taken captive by the Tines, an alien race with a harsh medieval culture, and used as pawns in a ruthless power struggle. A rescue mission, not entirely composed of humans, must rescue the children-and a secret that may save the rest of interstellar civilization.

Two science fiction novels combined into one epic conveying the experience of travelling through millions of years of time.

The Barnes & Noble Review presents a gripping tale set 50 million years in the future, where the remnants of humanity face extinction amidst a backdrop of murder and hard science fiction. Following the events of The Peace War, the narrative centers on bobbles—force fields that isolate areas from the universe. Small groups of humans have survived by entering stasis for centuries, but with fewer than 300 individuals remaining and crucial technology deteriorating, a long-term survival plan is critical. However, the survivors are deeply divided. The plot thickens when Marta Korolev, a key planner, is brutally murdered while others remain in stasis. A former police officer must unravel the mystery of her death to prevent the extinction of the human race. This sequel, often hailed as Vinge's best work, is a compelling blend of intrigue and thought-provoking concepts, appealing to fans of his later acclaimed novels. With its imaginative scope and visual richness, this masterpiece is essential reading for science fiction enthusiasts. Paul Goat Allen

A collection of articles and essays about the new frontier of the Internet, especially a direct interface between brain and computer that enables game players of the future to actually experience the world of their fantasies.

From Book 1: The Peace War is quintessential hard-science adventure. The Peace Authority conquered the world with a weapon that never should have been a weapon--the "bobble," a spherical force-field impenetrable by any force known to mankind. Encasing governmental installations and military bases in bobbles, the Authority becomes virtually omnipotent. But they've never caught Paul Hoehler, the maverick who invented the technology, and who has been working quietly for decades to develop a way to defeat the Authority. With the help of an underground network of determined, independent scientists and a teenager who may be the apprentice genius he's needed for so long, he will shake the world, in the fast-paced hard-science thriller that garnered Vinge the first of his four Hugo nominations for best novel. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

In a near-future western civilization that is threatened by corruptive practices within its technologically advanced information networks, a recovered Alzheimer's victim and his family are caught up in a dangerous maelstrom beyond their worst imaginings

"Mr Slippery is an illegal computer hacker - a Warlock - and an expert in a new virtual reality technology called the Other Plane. Arrested by US the government and forced to work for them, he finds himself pitted against a new and frightening international cybercriminal: the Mailman. The Mailman is building a network of Warlocks, promising them wealth and power, causing chaos around the globe - but noone has ever met him in person. As Mr Slippery and his sidekick Erythrina drain the world's computational power to track down their formidable adversary, they begin to wonder if they are chasing a ghost. Is the Mailman a man at all? Is he even human?"--Provided by publisher

Vernor Vinge's debut full-length novel explores the intricate interplay between technology and humanity. Set in a richly imagined universe, it delves into themes of artificial intelligence and the potential consequences of advanced technology on society. The narrative features compelling characters who navigate a future filled with challenges and moral dilemmas, showcasing Vinge's signature blend of thought-provoking ideas and engaging storytelling.