A
Hugo-winning
science fiction novel by
Vernor Vinge, about a
quest to rescue two young
children marooned on a medieval planet amid
wolf-like
gestalt creatures called
Tines, and at the same time end the threat of an insane god/computer that threatens to ravage the entire
galaxy if not stopped in time. Notable for featuring an analogue of the
USENET on a galactic scale (and, if
rumor is to be believed, imitations of the posting styles of various famous
USENET kooks of the time it was written).
The prequel, A Deepness in the Sky, was published in 1999.
A Fire Upon the Deep is available for PDAs via Peanut Press.