Rating: 
Summary: An Exciting and Creative Novel
Review: A Fire upon the Deep is one of the best SF novels that I have read. Mr. Vinge skillfully interweaves related but parallel stories in a most entertaining fashion. He creates some very unusual characters who take on a real life of their own during the course of the story. Vernor Vinge may be the most skillful SF writer currently active, with his combination of wonderful imagination and engaging prose. For anyone looking for an enjoyable few hours of escape, A Fire upon the Deep is your ticket.
Rating: 
Summary: Action packed and totally enchanting
Review: Having never read any of Vinge's works this came as a total delight. From the very first pages, there is excitement and action. From those first pages, the reader is crash-landed into an alien world along with the central characters. The books ability to then transport the reader through this alien environment is unsurpassed and central to the enjoyment. I would truly recommend this book for anyone interested in action-packed escapism.
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Summary: Complex, read on many levels. Swashbuckle the galactic net.
Review: Most reviews here of "A Fire upon the Deep" make sweeping and unsupported claims, either dismissing the book out of hand on the basis that the reviewer didn’t like it (didn’t understand it, I suspect) or giving glowing but equally unsupported praise. Neither is appropriate, because "A Fire upon the Deep" is a complex book. At one level, it’s a child’s book, an adventure running away from The Demon Lord (which is a nasty AI this time) and swashbuckling across a planet full of smart dogs. On another level it’s a hardcore sci-fi novel, with the 'net scaled up to span a galaxy that teems. The aliens are very alien, and the beautiful people are butterfly nazis. The good guys couldn’t wear white hats if they tried and the unwitting traitors resemble furniture. No men in Godzilla suits here. On a third level it’s a study of humanity; the way we were, the way we are and the way we will be, while on yet another level it’s a big question of could we/should we and "have we been here before or are we yet to come?" As for whether I liked it, this book is one of my all-time favourites. It’s a little slow in the swashbuckling dogs part in the middle, but well worth pushing on. Sadly Mr Vinge’s writing is not a vehicle equal to his astonishing imagination. Read it.
Rating: 
Summary: It was okay
Review: I thought it was a good read, but I wouldn't recommend it for its greatness. The concepts presented are noteworthy but the presentation was mediocre.
Rating:
Summary: What science fiction used to be about
Review: I've long been a fan of Vernor Vinge and this novel has everything I love. It has a well worked out universe, original ideas (a lot of them) and isn't afraid to make use of them. There's good characteriztion and plot. All too much work that's called science fiction lacks any idea of science. This book is an oasis in a scientific wasteland.
Rating:
Summary: really one of the best
Review: very cool ideas, well written, not easily predictable, good pacing, interesting characters. i don't know what all the carping about here is. i'm a big vernor vinge fan and this is a great read.
Rating:
Summary: One of the top ten Sci-Fi novels I've read.
Review: Character developement in this story is really good. It actually keeps up with the wonderful plot elements. There are probably five different plot lines all of which keep you fascinated, while at the same time, it is easy to care about the characters who are being swept along into the maelstrom of activity. The characters are as strong as those in the Peace War (which I do not reccomend), but in this novel Vinge shows us what he can do when he matches his likable characters with an excellent story.
Rating: 
Summary: How did it win the Hugo?
Review: What did I miss? This is just a below average SF book, easy to put down. But I finished it because I want to read all the HUGO winners. I gave it 2 stars because the "networked packs" and the children were interesting; otherwise, reading this was a chore. If I recall correctly, this tied for the 1993 HUGO with Connie Willis' "Doomsday Book"--a much, much better book!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book, Very Interesting Ideas
Review: I really don't understand the bad reviews. I thought the writing style was fine, it held my interest, but most of all the universe he creates is simply incredible! Very interesting...
Rating:
Summary: Vinge's concepts are worth the read.
Review: I was not so thrown off by the way this read. This book may not contain the "flower" of Card, but I really enjoyed Vinge's concepts. The sociology of the "networked" packs was a treat in itself. Vinge has a clear concept of future Computer networking and the value of information. Sometimes you just have to set aside the greens for the meat.
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