Vinge is a real world, honest to goodness Computer Science
professor. His books are accurately
described as hard science fiction. This
story describes a space faring group of merchants, the Qeng Ho, benefiting from
the time dilation effect of interstellar travel. They are traveling to a stellar anomaly and
encounter a rival group of travelers.
Friction ensues.
The Qeng Ho see the universe through the long view. They visit customers (populated planets) and
often when they return after a century or more they see the decline or the
acceleration of a civilization. Their
travel to the On/Off Star is predicated on scientific curiosity and the
necessary profit motivation. They
encounter a race that has recovered from a civilization decline and are on
their way back up. Both space faring
groups have different plans for the budding alien race on Arachna. The budding race, not surprisingly, has
plans of it's own.
Conflict between competitors is not unusual but the conflict
here is beyond the ken of business is just business. This is really a three way story with points
of view from all three participants.
Adding flavor is the Leonardo Da Vinci of Arachna, Sherkaner Underhill
I highly recommend it.
Fan Based web site: http://mindstalk.net/vinge/
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