Ten years have passed on Tines World, where Ravna Bergnsdot and a number of human children ended up after a disaster that nearly obliterated humankind throughout the galaxy. Ravna and the pack animals for which the planet is named have survived a war, and Ravna has saved more than one hundred children who were in cold-sleep aboard the vessel that brought them. While there is peace among the Tines, there are those among them - and among the humans - who seek power...and no matter the cost, these malcontents are determined to overturn the fledgling civilization that has taken root since the humans landed. On a world of fascinating wonders and terrifying dangers, Vernor Vinge has created a powerful novel of adventure and discovery that will entrance the many readers of "A Fire Upon the Deep". Filled with the inventiveness, excitement, and human drama that have become hallmarks of his work, this new novel is sure to become another great milestone in Vinge's already stellar career.

弗諾·文奇，作為塞伯朋剋流派中活躍至今的作傢，弗諾·文奇擁有極高的聲譽，在硬科幻小說寫作方麵很有一手。他的小說邏輯嚴密，情節緊湊，展示齣科技的奇妙之處，尤以細節的締造和令人驚嘆的預見力著稱。大量細緻又經得起推敲的描述讓虛構齣的“異世界”及生活其中的科族幾可亂真。 和他本身的科學素養大有關係，弗諾·文奇本身就是數學傢和計算機專傢。閱讀文奇的科幻小說，絕對是一種享受。

文奇並不多産，但他的每一部小說都可稱得上經典。1981年的《真名實姓》使他聲名大噪，1992年的《深淵上的火》獲得雨果奬，2000年又以該書前傳《天淵》擊敗《哈利·波特與阿茲卡班的囚徒》，再獲雨果奬。