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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What type of trances does Pham go into regularly?
2. How big is the fleet that is pursuing OOB?
3. What does Greenstalk say must be repaired soon?
4. What happens when Pham is in godshatter state?
5. Who are the three butterflies?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Vernor Vinge is a not only a novelist, but a professor of mathematics. The book A Fire upon the Deep won the Hugo award for Science Fiction. It is useful to know about him not just because he authored A Fire upon the Deep, but also because his ideas of the future might need to be considered.
1. Research Vinge and write a brief biography of him.
2. What do you find to be most impressive about the man?
3. What do you think is Vinge's greatest accomplishment?
4. Vinge writes and essay titled, "The Coming Technological Singularity." Much of those ideas can be found in A Fire upon the Deep. Research and relate his essay to his book.
Essay Topic 2
A Fire upon the Deep is written in the genre of science fiction. Discuss the following:
1. What sets science fiction apart from other genres? What are the characteristics of the genre of science fiction?
2. Based upon the characteristics you list in 1 above, discuss why A Fire upon the Deep falls under the genre of science fiction.
3. Some people might say that science fiction is merely for entertainment? Do you agree or not? Explain.
Essay Topic 3
In chapter 15, Steel tours his dungeons, where the "raw material" is driven crazy to serve as the basis "blank packs." The dungeon is described in horrifying detail and contrasted with Woodcarver's processes aimed at the same goal, but bounded by "traditional ethics." Discuss the following:
1. Though Steel's methods are more horrific than Woodcarver's, their end goal is the same. Is this goal ethical? Why or why not?
2. Do you think what Steel and Woodcarver are attempting to do is moving the evolution of the Tines forward? Why or why not?
3. What do you think Steel and Woodcarver want in creating blank packs? Are there other ways of obtaining the same end without dubious means?
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This section contains 404 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |
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