"It's kind of hard to make a short description of such a far-ranging book. You essentially have two plots--one involving a unique (and very well-thought-out) alien race, and one involving a set of humans abnd aliens trying to circumvent the rise of an accidentally-created Transcendant Power of extreme maliciousness. There are great descriptions of the primary alien race's politics and culture as well as that of the overall galactic society."
Jason T., Resident Vernor Vinge Scholar
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Overall Review
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 50%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- exploring a wondrous planet or phenomena
- generally friendly contact with alien(s)
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- scientist
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- healthy but a geeky weakling
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Computer
Age:
- long-lived adults
Profession/status:
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Intelligence
- Genius (really!)
Setting
Terrain
- Water
- Mountains
- Forests
- Space, need spacesuit
Spaceship setting:
- a space station
- futuristic human freighter/transport
- really, really giant spaceship/station
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- inhabited by friendly aliens
- unfriendly aliens
- primitive aliens
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Takes place in spaceship?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- explicit references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a fair amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- descript of kissing
How much dialogue?
- significantly more descript than dialog
