Races
- Humans
All humans in the novel (except Pham) are descended from Nyjoran stock. Old Earth is noted as being on the other side of the galaxy. One of the major human habitations is Sjandra Kei, three systems comprising roughly 28 billion individuals. Their main tongue is Samnorsk.
- Tines
A canid race, each 'person' comprising a group mind of 4-8 individuals, connected by sound-waves. Each 'soul' will last as long as it has members, potentially hundreds of years.
- Skroders / Riders / Skroderiders
A benign sessile race, using wheeled mechanical constructs to move and as short-term memory.
- Dirokimes
Older race of inward dreamers, original inhabitants of Sjandra Kei.
Read more about this topic: A Fire Upon The Deep
Famous quotes containing the word races:
“For the most part we stupidly confound one man with another. The dull distinguish only races or nations, or at most classes, but the wise man, individuals.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“There are only two races on this planet—the intelligent and the stupid.”
—John Fowles (b. 1926)