Greats of Science Fiction

Vinge, Vernor

Vernor Vinge, 1944 - present

Vernor Vinge is probably not someone who's name trips off the tongue when discussing the Greats of Science Fiction, and in my experience very few people know of his work. In part, that may be because none of Vinge's works have been made into film, but perhaps it is also because compared to other authors, Vernor Vinge is not what one might call prolific in his works.

The 'why?' to that statement is because Vinge was an academic in the field of mathematics and computer science, retiring as Professor from San Diego State University to write full time in 2000. Vinge actually began writing science fiction in 1966, and much of his work takes the form of short stories. It is his full-length novels that really deserve recognition and a place in the greats, but before the reason for this is explored, it is necessary to uncover another, more technically-focussed work that Vinge produced as part of his academic career.

In 1993, Vinge published in the journal Whole Earth Review a paper entitled 'The Coming Technological Singularity: How to Survive in the Post-Human Era'. This rather alarmingly titled paper is, well, rather alarming. It should, in my humble opinion, be required reading for any serious science fiction writer, and fortunately is still available via the San Diego State University. I recommend a pause for half an hour or so to read it, as it has so much relevance to what comes after...

Link

Alright? Still here? For those of you who haven't read it yet, (as opposed to those who have gone to build a shelter and stock up on survival goods) here's the abstract:

Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence.

Shortly after, the human era will be ended.

That was 25 years ago. We must be getting close. What Vinge proposes is, to paraphrase, that computer and network systems will become so powerful that an artificial intelligence will arise spontaneously, and that it will, no matter if it has good or bad intentions, be the End of the Human Era. This does not necessarily mean that life will end, but that life as we know it will end. But what stands out is how prescient Vinge is in setting out what progress will be made in the thirty-year time period he sets, and how such progress may materialise. His prediction is, to put it mildly, scarily accurate ... so far.

It is that insightful knowledge and expertise in his field that gives Vinge's novels a realism and depth that fairly drips off the pages, allied with hugely enjoyable and realistic characters (whether human or alien) and detailed worldbuilding which adds up to make his work truly great. In some ways, Vinge's future predictions come closer to what may be realised than any other.

The work that introduced me to Vinge was his 'Zones of Thought' series, set many thousands of years in the future when humans have colonized space, populated planets, lost contact with each other and fallen to medieval times before rebuilding once more to space fairing capabilities, and continue to expand out into the unknown reaches of space. The first in the series, 'A Fire Upon The Deep', was written in 1993 and introduces the concept of the galaxy being split in to various 'Zones', with speed of consciousness and the ability to travel faster than light linked to how far out from galactic centre you are. At the edges, almost god-like super-intelligences are to be found, while further in, the more basic computer processing has to become for it to work, and eventually FTL craft cannot function, travel instead being only possible through the use of Ramscoops (a theoretically achievable means of interstellar travel, but slow). The novel is notable for its use of an interstellar messaging service, very much akin to the early internet chat room capabilities on the world wide web which had emerged at the same time as Vinge wrote the book. The central theme, that of an ancient hostile machine intelligence awoken by mistake which then rampages across the galaxy while a few humans flee towards the Depths and try to battle the pursuing darkness is an allegory to the singularity Vinge describes in his 1993 paper. Vinge manages to mirror the apathy, non-acceptance of various parts of society and the blame that gets thrown about in times of uncertainty on a galactic scale, while introducing the reader to truly engaging pack-mind creatures who are, in many ways, more human than the humans themselves.

It is the second book in the series, 'A Deepness In The Sky', set twenty thousand years earlier than the first which really impresses. Written in 1999, it is clear that advances in technology and the direction of travel of computing technology have influenced Vinge's work, making it more closely linked to the times of today, but more than that, this work is Vinge's opus. For in Deepness, Vinge hit upon the perfect combination of character and place and wrote what is, in my view, the finest science fiction novel of all time.

Deepness starts with two human factions, one a group of trading families with histories back almost to the start of human space exploration, and another, an unknown group just re-emerged from a time of scarcity, racing each other to the OnOff Star, a strange star that is dormant for 200 years, then blazes back into life for 50 before fading away again. Known about for millennia, but never visited, it is the reception of spark-gap radio signals from the single orbiting planet that gets attention, and the race to be the first to contact and exploit the inhabitants begins. Add to the fact that only one intelligent alien species have ever been contacted before, and the prize that awaits could be enormous.

From there, an amazing story unfolds. Themes of slavery, religious zealotry, societal change through technological and scientific progress, challenging tradition, fighting against inherited ignorance and conservative views are central to Vinge's narrative, with parallel struggles and alliances forging on all sides, both alien and human. All this against a backdrop of espionage and history which makes Deepness such an all-encompassing and engrossing novel which chimes very much with today's themes of acceptance and equal rights.

I haven't yet explored the final Zones of Thought book (The Children Of The Sky) - I'm worried that after Deepness I would find it less satisfying somehow. A Deepness In The Sky remains my number one favourite science fiction read, and is likely to remain so for years to come. If you only have time to read one Vinge novel - make it this one.

Written by tristam_james