A Fire Upon the Deep (Zones of Thought, #1)
by Vernor Vinge
A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge holds a highly rated rating of 4.13 out of 5, based on 38K reader ratings. First published in 1992. The book spans 613 pages.
About 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.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Vernor Vinge |
| Published | 1992 |
| Pages | 613 |
| Genres | Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy |
| Average Rating | 4.13 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 37,986 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is A Fire Upon the Deep?
A Fire Upon the Deep is categorized as Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy. Its primary genre classification is Fantasy.
Is A Fire Upon the Deep worth reading?
Based on 38K reader ratings, A Fire Upon the Deep has an average score of 4.13 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated."
How many pages is A Fire Upon the Deep?
A Fire Upon the Deep has 613 pages. It is a longer read suited for dedicated readers.
Who wrote A Fire Upon the Deep?
A Fire Upon the Deep was written by Vernor Vinge. It was first published in 1992.
What is the ISBN for A Fire Upon the Deep?
The ISBN-13 for A Fire Upon the Deep is 9780812515280.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
