Science Fiction · ThoughtfulIn 2025 San Diego, a former poet recovered from Alzheimer's must adjust to a world of ubiquitous networks
Rainbows End
by Vernor Vinge
A man returns to a world of augmented reality
Tor Books published the novel on 16 May 2006, and the first hardback has 368 pages. It is set in San Diego in 2025. Robert Gu, a former poet and English professor, recovers from Alzheimer's disease thanks to medical advances, and must adjust to a world where nearly everything is networked and augmented reality is common. Much of the action takes place at UC San Diego, around Geisel Library. Augmented reality works through contact lenses and smart clothing.
More about this book
Who
Robert Gu, his granddaughter Miri, his wife Lena, his son Bob and the 14-year-old Juan Orozco.
World
San Diego in 2025, with ubiquitous computing.
What makes it different
It is set in a variant of the world of Vinge's novella "Fast Times at Fairmont High". It won the Hugo and the Locus Award in 2007.
Feel
Curious and brisk.
Page count and cover shown for: Selected edition
Further reading
- Rainbows EndWikipedia