The Zones of Thought

These are regions in the Galaxy of Vernor Vinge's books 'A Fire Upon the Deep' and 'A Deepness in the Sky' that have distinct and different physical characteristics. There are four main zones but as one moves towards the boundaries, characteristics of the two interact so the transition is not necessarily smooth. There is textual evidence that the zones are not fixed; there are waves and troughs and occasional surges that bend the boundaries out of all recognition.

Heading out from the Galactic Core they are:

• The Unthinking Depths. These are where all technology and intelligence itself fails - the area nearest the Galactic Core.
• The Slow Zone. Here, intelligence is generally reasonably high and technology up to sub-light star-ships works. Many species in the Beyond originated in this zone. By volume the largest part of the Galaxy.
• The Beyond. The outer region of the Galaxy where species tends to migrate out to. Here it is possible to travel at faster than light speeds, with efficiencies dropping as a vessel 'drops' towards the boundary of the Slow Zone. Computers become much more responsive and technology comes close to magic.
• The Transcend. In this region virtually anything can be created and intelligences reach god-like status. Generally in the outer edges of the Galaxy and heading out into the inter Galactic regions.

In general civilisations rise up the zones from the Slow Zone, through the Beyond and out to the Transcend. This is usually done as a species though there can be residual civilisations in the various level. Humanity seems unique in that many Human dominated civilisations remain in the Beyond. The boundaries between the individual zones are also somewhat fluid - a boundary can surge, so that the Slow Zone can cover a region that was once in the Beyond.

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