''Vast'' is a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

novel by

Linda Nagata Linda Nagata (born November 7, 1960, in San Diego, California) is a Hawaii-based American author of speculative fiction, science fiction, and fantasy novels, novellas, and short stories. Her novella ''Goddesses'' was the first online publicati ...

, part of her loosely connected "Nanotech Succession" sequence.

Background

The main characters of ''Vast'' are the crew and passengers of the ''Null Boundary'', who are fleeing from the alien Chenzeme. The Chenzeme, using the "cult virus" and other, more conventional, weapons have destroyed much of human-occupied space, leaving the inhabitants of the ''Null Boundary'' to attempt to discover why. While ''Vast'' is a standalone novel, there are links to ''The Bohr Maker'', ''Tech-Heaven'' and ''Deception Well'', primarily in the form of two shared technological innovations: advanced nanotechnology and "ghosts", a name given to electronically preserved human memories and personalities.

Literary significance and reception

The

SF Site SF may refer to: Locations * San Francisco, California, United States * Sidi Fredj, Algeria * South Florida, an urban region in the United States * Suomi Finland, former vehicular country code for Finland In arts and entertainment Genre ...

gave the novel a positive review, commenting on the balance between the relatively straightforward plotline and the complex character interaction. John Clute, in ''

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction ''The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction'' (SFE) is an English language reference work on science fiction, first published in 1979. It has won the Hugo, Locus and British SF Awards. Two print editions appeared in 1979 and 1993. A third, continu ...

'', described the "Deception Well" sub-sequence (comprising ''Deception Well'' and ''Vast'') as "an immensely complex tale," drawing comparisons with the work of

Olaf Stapledon William Olaf Stapledon (10 May 1886 – 6 September 1950) – known as Olaf Stapledon – was a British philosopher and author of science fiction.Andy Sawyer, " illiamOlaf Stapledon (1886-1950)", in Bould, Mark, et al, eds. ''Fifty Key Figures ...

and

Larry Niven Laurence van Cott Niven (; born April 30, 1938) is an American science fiction writer. His best-known works are '' Ringworld'' (1970), which received Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards, and, with Jerry Pournelle, '' The Mote in God's E ...

Alastair Reynolds Alastair Preston Reynolds (born 13 March 1966) is a Welsh science fiction author. He specialises in hard science fiction and space opera. He spent his early years in Cornwall, moved back to Wales before going to Newcastle University, where he s ...

described ''Vast'' as "one of the most enjoyable SF books I've read in the last 12 years" and noted its influence on his own novels, particularly ''

Redemption Ark ''Redemption Ark'' is a 2002 science fiction novel by Welsh author Alastair Reynolds set in the Revelation Space universe. It continues the story of Nevil Clavain begun in the short stories " Great Wall of Mars" and "Glacial". Plot The novel t ...

'' and '' House of Suns''.

References

1998 American novels 1998 science fiction novels Bantam Books books Nanotechnology in fiction Biological weapons in popular culture Ghost novels Fiction about memory Bantam Spectra books {{1990s-ghost-novel-stub