| Author: | Vernor Vinge |
| Copyright: | 1999 |
| Date Reviewed: | 7/1/00 |
| Rating: | 9.0 |
Two civilizations each mount an expedition to the OnOff star and arrive at the same time. The star is active for 30 years at a time, then turns itself off for 250 years. The Qeng Ho is an 8,000 year old trading society. It was created by Phan Nuen and his wife. Phan's goals of making the Qeng Ho into an empire were thwarted by his wife and he was sent off into space in exile. He ends up on the Qeng Ho expedition but plays the fool to protect his identity. The Emergents are a new political entity and not much is known about them. As the two expeditions arrive, they find the first living intelligent species outside Humanity. The profit opportunities are huge. The news species is called Spiders because they look similar to the earth crawlers.
Through treachery and deceit, the Emergents conquer the Qeng Ho, even as the first attempts f cooperation are starting. The Qeng Ho's freedoms are strictly limited and many of them are enslaved totally and turned into living computers called the Focused. The focused barely live, never leaving their cubicles or even washing themselves. They exist only to do research or solve problems that are brought to them by the Emergent. Over the course of the next 40 years, the remaining Qeng Ho regain some of their capitalist rights, only to keep them in line.
In the meantime, the Spiders are advancing as a species. Instead of burrowing deep into the planet and freezing for the duration of the off phase, they learn to thrive throughout the dark cycle. Their versions of the Industrial and Information ages come quick; as do the dangers of such knowledge. By the end of the novel, two nations are on the brink of war.
Unknown to most of the two human societies, the Emergent's mission changes to promote a war among the Spiders. With the Spider's cultures in shock, the Emergents can take advantage any way they want. Meanwhile Phan Nuen and another stage a revolt and bring down the Emergent. They are aided by the Spiders who have learned to manipulate the Emergent's systems. In the brief war, the leadership of the Emergent is killed or captured and the Qeng Ho regain control. All of the focused are free. After peace, Phan Nuwen and Ann Reynolt prepare to attack the Emergent home world to destroy their society and bring down focusing forever.