i just want to express my appreciation for your episode on fire upon the deep by victor vinge. by coincidence, i had just finished it when your podcast came out. the science and ideas about singularity were especially helpful in my understanding. i picked up the concept of the layers, but not the overall reason for them. i also appreciate the pronunciation tips, i was pronouncing vinge, ving-geh, german style.
one correction, ravna was not from straumli realm, she had been warned against it by her folks.
i also want to recommend the prequel. i read a deepness in the sky first and i have to say i like it better, although i definately enjoyed fire upon the deep. pham is an important character again, although he is still in his first incarnation. you get his full background story, which is helpful for fire upon the deep, but deepness in the sky is also a more hopeful book, centering on a planet of aliens that have just entered their industrial age and resemble spiders, and two different human civilizations competing to gain access to them first. one of these civilizations has developed a horrific new technology that enables immense human concentration and chaos ensues when the other side discovers it. this book is every bit as deep and rich as fire upon the deep, but it isn’t such a sad story.

thanks, great pod-casting,

heather