In this science fiction epic, a human expedition inadvertently unleashes a malevolent superintelligence in the far reaches of the galaxy. As the entity spreads destruction across civilizations, a diverse group of characters, including a family stranded on a planet with a medieval-level society of dog-like aliens, must navigate complex political landscapes and the vast scales of a universe with zones of thought that dictate the level of technological and cognitive potential. The novel intertwines multiple narratives, exploring themes of consciousness, technology, and communication, while a desperate race against time unfolds to stop the spreading menace before it can reach the High Beyond, where even more advanced societies are vulnerable to its insatiable hunger for power and control.

The 5871st greatest book of all time