Rating: 
Summary: Still a favorite
Review: I decided to re-read this book after having read it some eight years ago. I loved it then and have come to enjoy it even more the second time around. The depth of the storytelling takes my breath away.
Rating: 
Summary: Good read, however not wonderful
Review: I enjoyed reading this book and marveled at some of the truly original ideas in it. Yes, it's *loosely* based on Hans Christian Anderson's _Snow Queen_, however Vinge indeed created a singular world with this novel.The Snow Queen has ruled Tiamat for 150 years, so when she sees that her rein is about to end, she plots to retain her throne despite the traditional Change that takes place every 150 years. the gist of her plot is to basically clone herself. Her clone is Moon, the protagonist of this story. I liked how Vinge has included many political and social issues such as sexism, prejudice and imperialism. The setting and even the plot have merit. The only downfall to this book (and this is entirely on a personal level) is one of the main characters. Sparks Dawntreader is Moon's love interest, and I just dislike his character so much! I think he represents the frailty of humanity in that each person has their own heinous sins, however, he never redeems himself!! I keep holding my breath, waiting for him to do something that makes me like him, but he never does it! Despie my one complaint, this novel is still worthy or reading. Who knows, you may find that, unlike me, you do like Sparks!
Rating:
Summary: Imagination I'd like to see come to life!!!
Review: I first read this book as a young, impressionable freshman in High School. Since then I have read and re-read it. As I've grown up I have changed in many ways, but this book still brings me back to those fantastic days. It is an amazingly visual book. The characters, the world, the languages, both emotional and physical spoken by Joan are vivid, captivating and memorable. During my re-readings, I have many times imagined this book and it's sequal, The Summer Queen, come to life on the big screen. The story is very adaptable to that medium with high adventure, romance, amazing costumes and characters, classic good vs. evil.... I think it would be a simply wonderful movie, whether written for a young audience or a more mature one. Anyone agree?
Rating:
Summary: A great one when you want a book you won't want to put down
Review: I just finished 'The Snow Queen' last night and have spent much of this evening rereading sections I particularly liked. I only do that with books I really enjoy. The characters were well-developed and had personalities that could be identified with, the pace sped up at the right rate and the setting and story felt realistic. There was some philosophising and moral messages, but it didn't go over the top like some sci-fi does. And although the scene is set for a sequel, I didn't feel like I was left hanging like in many sci-fi series books. This one was complete with the key questions answered. A great read when you want a book you can get lost in and you have the time not to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: A great book; an anthropologist's view of the future
Review: I loved this book. As an anthropologist and an archaeologist, I thought it presented an insight of what it would be like for a culture, trying to evolve against the will of technologically superior neighbors. I have read the book at least ten times, and always find nuances to the characters I hadn't noticed before
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointing venture
Review: I read this book expecting phenomenal things. I had heard it compared, on several ocassions, to the masterpiece Dune, so I expected a certain level of complexity, literary flair, and passion. I was disappointed. Perhaps part of the problem is that I don't think this book meets the current crtieria for a classification of Science Fiction. I found the book much more Fantasy driven, though the line between these two genres of speculative fiction is blurry. Neverthless, I found that the book didn't adequately address moral and ethical issues, or issues of "being" that I expect science fiction novels to address. A further hinderance to my enjoyment of the book was that I found the characters rather flat. I cared very little about the characters, even the main character, Moon. I was unable to buy into the web of relationships between the characters, and when we see Moon fall in love during one segment of the story, I found myself surprisingly unmoved by her emotion. The writer's style simply failed to move me. Although there were several passages where I found a true passion and glib movement in the author's voice, most of the book felt empty to me. There were some heavy themes explored in this work, but I didn't find any of them compelling. The issue of the equality of women I found especially wanting. I wish that the author had spent more time developing the ecological and feminist tensions in the book if she was going to address them at all. Overall, I was not moved by this story. The only reason I even finished it was because I simply couldn't believe that the story had finished unfolding. I kept thinking there must be something I'd missed that will be made apparent in the end. But, I was mistaken.
Rating: 
Summary: 11
Review: I remember having read this a long time ago, and I still feel sick at the thought. The only reason I finished it was that I paid good money for it, and this was also the reason I kept my copy (at least I think I still have it, somewhere). As far as I can remember there was no SF in it but only traditional black magic disguised as SF. Story really drags too.
Rating:
Summary: Don't bother
Review: I was going through the Hugo list, and unfortunately this was one of the very few remaining titles I did not read yet. I have no idea how this book won Hugo award, they must've had a shortage on science fiction novels in 1980 or they might have just given it for great efforts in trying to rip-off Herbert's Dune and Ursula Le Guin's Left Hand of Darkness.(not to mention the "Snow queen" title) Usually, the sci-fi books lack good writing, but they have, especially Hugo award winners, good plot along with decent or better scientific input. This book does not have either. The characters are all one dimensional, and it actually feels like they are all the same person. This is arguably the worst "science fiction" novel I have read in years ( for certain, the worst Hugo award winning book I've read), and I've read tons of them. This book is not for any science-fiction reader, who's read more than 3 books in the genre. If you read a lot of romance novels or watch soap-operas on basic TV during the afternoon hours, this book is for you. Otherwise, do not bother.I actualy wish I could give it zero stars. If you plan on reading all Hugo winning books, save this one for the last.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Story
Review: I won't waste time repeating the story line like other reviewers, but here is my two cents worth: I picked up this book on a recommendation from my sci-fi writer's group as an introduction to sci-fi/romance for my wife (I know she likes romance, but she has never read sci-fi as of yet). I started to find out why the group would even recommend it. I'm so glad I did. I totally felt swept away in the universe Vinge creates here. The sense of wonder and magic followed me with each page turn. The characters were complex, believable, and many likeable. Some reviewers criticize the book because Sparks isn't really a likeable guy for a "protagonist". I found Sparks' decisions and changes believable and explained in full by the author ("the water of life creates madness in some they say...") It is NOT necessary to read the sequel, Summer Queen. I can't think of one relationship or conflict not resolved by the end of this book. I will pick up and read Summer Queen just because I want to know what happens next to our characters. OVERALL: Get it! You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Great book with vivid imagination
Review: I've read this book back when I was a 9th grader in high school, and I like it very much. (I review it 3 years later because I don't have a computer back then.) For some reason, the story is just so vivid that I can't seem to forget the image that was built in my head as I read through the book. And of course, at some point I just can't put the book down... (I am an artist; and yes, the reason I picked up this book 3 years ago because it had the cover illustration by Michael Whelan.) Therefore, for those SciFi fan who love the unusual and totally-out-of-this-world story should read this book. :) PS: a few things I REALLY REALLY don't like about this book is that it contain some offensive language. (Yup, one of the popular words that start with the letter "F" and "S" are those I REALLY HATE) PSS: I also enjoyed "The Summer Queen" (sequel). But due to its length (almost 1000pgs), so I never finish it (didn't have the time in my Junior year).
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