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Rainbows End (2006)

by Vernor Vinge

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
2,9731084,595 (3.57)96
In a near-future western civilization that is threatened by corruptive practices within its technologically advanced information networks, a recovered Alzheimer's victim and his family are caught up in a dangerous maelstrom beyond their worst imaginings.
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» See also 96 mentions

English (103)  Spanish (1)  Dutch (1)  Italian (1)  French (1)  All languages (107)
Showing 1-5 of 103 (next | show all)
Not Vinge's best work, but a fun read with a compelling protagonist. ( )
  Byakhee | Feb 21, 2024 |
I would give this books four stars based on the ideas upon which it is based. But it really gets 3 stars because I found the plot less than engrossing and the main characters largely unsympathetic. This does not measure up to [b:A Fire Upon the Deep|77711|A Fire Upon The Deep (Zones of Thought)|Vernor Vinge|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170900383s/77711.jpg|1253374] or [b:A Deepness in the Sky|226004|A Deepness in the Sky|Vernor Vinge|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1217218691s/226004.jpg|1270006]. ( )
  Treebeard_404 | Jan 23, 2024 |
Story: 3 / 10
Characters: 7
Setting: 8
Prose: 6 ( )
  MXMLLN | Jan 12, 2024 |
I'm torn about this book.

On the one hand, the ideas presented about the cyberfuture and medical utopia are compelling, truly futuristic, solidly grounded in the present and completely developed. Mr. Vinge has extrapolated a networked near future full of technological miracles and complications. Anyone working or playing in the field of computers, gaming and networks, as I do, can easily start to believe in the inevitability of the vision. The reader loses track of the here and now, living entirely in that other world. Several main characters are full of life and motivation, I found myself yearning to learn what they would do next and why. They often surprised me.

On the other hand, getting there was somewhat laborious. The novelty and virtuality of the invented future, the mystery surrounding several characters and their motivations, and the obscure nature of many fantasies within the fantasy made some scenes difficult to wade through. Even at the end of the book, not everything or everyone is explained. On the one hand, I believe this is intentional. Hats off to Mr. Vinge for not spoon feeding the reader and allowing us to fill in the blanks with our own imaginations. On the other hand, I know there are potential readers that will be left completely at sea.

This is thought-provoking, challenging science fiction at its finest. If you want to know where our technology and entertainment choices are taking us, this might be it. ( )
  zot79 | Aug 20, 2023 |
Old science fiction authors like to write about rejuvenation technologies. ( )
  matthwdeanmartin | Jul 9, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 103 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (17 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Vinge, Vernorprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Conger, EricNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Martiniere, StephanCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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To the Internet-based cognitive tools that are changing our lives--Wikipedia, Google, eBay, and the others of their kind, now and in the future
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The first bit of dumb luck came disguised as a public embarrassment for the European Center for Defense Against Disease.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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In a near-future western civilization that is threatened by corruptive practices within its technologically advanced information networks, a recovered Alzheimer's victim and his family are caught up in a dangerous maelstrom beyond their worst imaginings.

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