Mers are hunted as frequently as possible during the Winter years, to the brink of extinction. The Hegemony’s interest in Tiamat has to do with the “mers,” sentient sea-dwelling creatures whose blood provides the “water of life,” a virus that halts the aging process. Interstellar travel between Tiamat and the Hegemony is only possible during the 150 years of Winter rule, and a single woman rules the entire planet: a “Snow Queen” in Winter, a “Summer Queen” in Summer. To keep the uneasy peace, the government switches between Winter rule and Summer rule. Every 150 years, the sun’s orbit around a black hole dramatically impacts the planetary ecology. The residents of Tiamat are split into two clans: “Winters,” who advocate technological progress and trade with offworlders, and “Summers,” who depend on their folk traditions and rigid social distinctions to survive on this marginal planet. Based on the fairy-tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen, The Snow Queen takes place on a mostly oceanic planet called Tiamat, whose suns orbit a black hole, which facilitates a type of interstellar wormhole travel and connects Tiamat to the rest of the civilized galaxy (the “Hegemony”, the remnants of a fallen Galactic Empire). Vinge’s 536-page science fiction novel has a rather complicated plot, so I’m going to use/trim the synopsis on Wikipedia (click link to read full synopsis). Interstellar politics, a millennia-long secret conspiracy, and a civilization whose hidden machineries might still control the fate of worlds all form the background to this spectacular hard science fiction novel from Joan D. Arienrhod is not without competition as Moon, a young Summer-tribe sibyl, and the nemesis of the Snow Queen, battles to break a conspiracy that spans space. Their only chance at surviving the change is if Arienrhod, the ageless, corrupt Snow Queen, can destroy destiny with an act of genocide. But soon the galactic stargate will close, isolating Tiamat, and the 150-year reign of the Summer primitives will begin. The imperious Winter colonists have ruled the planet Tiamat for 150 years, deriving wealth from the slaughter of the sea mers. Sword and Laser Goodreads Group Discussion of The Snow Queen The Snow Queen by Joan D. How/Why was this book chosen: Tom Chose it Vinge was the 126th official Sword and Laser Book Club selection.

The snow queen by joan d vinge