In the free-fall environment of the Smoke Ring, a doughnut-shaped gaseous envelope surrounding a neutron star, whole societies had evolved from the descendants of the crew of the Discipline. None of them remembered their Earth root—or the existence of Sharls Davis Kendy, the computer program that had acted as “adviser” to and despot of the tiny State microcosm that was the ship. Until the time of The Integral Trees , when Kendy once more made contact with the humans of the Smoke Ring.
The ringleaders of the rebellion that followed lived for the next fourteen years on Citizens Tree. But only Jeffer, their Scientist, knew that Sharls Davis Kendy was still watching—and waiting. Then the Citizens Tree people rescued a family of loggers and learned for the first time of the Admiralty, a large society living in free fall amid the floating debris called the Clump. And it was likely that the Admiralty had maintained, intact, Discipline ’s original computer library.
Exploration was a temptation neither Jeffer nor Kendy could resist, and neither Citizens Tree nor Sharls Davis Kendy would ever be the same again…
SUMMARY: "Niven has come up with an idea about as far out as one can get. . . . This is certainly classic science fictionthe idea is truly the hero." Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine When leaving Earth, the crew of the spaceship Discipline was prepared for a routine assignment. Dispatched by the all-powerful State on a mission of interstellar exploration and colonization, Discipline was aided (and secretly spied upon) by Sharls Davis Kendy, an emotionless computer intelligence programmed to monitor the loyalty and obedience of the crew. But what they weren't prepared for was the smoke ringan immense gaseous envelope that had formed around a neutron star directly in their path. The Smoke Ring was home to a variety of plant and animal life-forms evolved to thrive in conditions of continual free-fall. When Discipline encountered it, something went wrong. The crew abandoned ship and fled to the unlikely space oasis. Five hundred years later, the descendants of the Discipline crew living on the Smoke Ring no longer remember their origins. Earth is more myth than memory, and no recollection of the State remains. But Kendy remembers. And just outside the Smoke Ring, Discipline waits patiently to make contact with its wayward children. SUMMARY: In the free-fall environment of the Smoke Ring, the descendants of the crew of the Discipline no longer remembered their Earth roots -- or the existence of Sharls Davis Kendy, the computer-program despot of the ship. Until Kendy initiated contact once more.Fourteen years later, only Jeffer, the Citizens Tree Scientist, knew that Kendy was still watching -- and waiting. Then the Citizens Tree people rescued a family of loggers and learned for the first time of the Admiralty, a large society living in free fall amid the floating debris called the Clump. And it was likely that the Admiralty had maintained, intact, Discipline's original computer library.Exploration was a temptation neither Jeffer nor Kendy could resist, and neither Citizens Tree nor Sharls Davis Kendy would ever be the same again...
In the free-fall environment of the Smoke Ring (an immense gaseous envelope and neutron star circling a habitable cluster of plants, trees and animals), descendants of the starship Discipline's crew no longer remember their Earth roots or the existence of Sharls Davis Kendy, the computer AI controlling the ship -- until Kendy initiated contact once more, 500 years after the crew whom the half-mad AI calls "mutineers" were abandoned on this strange world (see The Integral Trees).
Fourteen years later only Jeffer, the Citizens Tree "Scientist", knew that Kendy was watching and advising. When Citizens Tree rescues a family of loggers, they learn of the Admiralty, a military organization in a town unknown to Citizens Tree. Jeffer is among those who want to visit the town and the Admiralty, which may have maintained intact Discipline's original computer library. The events following the visit to the town and the subsequent flight from the Admiralty form part of this exciting tale of adventure, danger and courage.
Description:
In the free-fall environment of the Smoke Ring, a doughnut-shaped gaseous envelope surrounding a neutron star, whole societies had evolved from the descendants of the crew of the Discipline. None of them remembered their Earth root—or the existence of Sharls Davis Kendy, the computer program that had acted as “adviser” to and despot of the tiny State microcosm that was the ship. Until the time of The Integral Trees , when Kendy once more made contact with the humans of the Smoke Ring.
The ringleaders of the rebellion that followed lived for the next fourteen years on Citizens Tree. But only Jeffer, their Scientist, knew that Sharls Davis Kendy was still watching—and waiting. Then the Citizens Tree people rescued a family of loggers and learned for the first time of the Admiralty, a large society living in free fall amid the floating debris called the Clump. And it was likely that the Admiralty had maintained, intact, Discipline ’s original computer library.
Exploration was a temptation neither Jeffer nor Kendy could resist, and neither Citizens Tree nor Sharls Davis Kendy would ever be the same again…
SUMMARY:
"Niven has come up with an idea about as far out as one can get. . . . This is certainly classic science fictionthe idea is truly the hero." Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine When leaving Earth, the crew of the spaceship Discipline was prepared for a routine assignment. Dispatched by the all-powerful State on a mission of interstellar exploration and colonization, Discipline was aided (and secretly spied upon) by Sharls Davis Kendy, an emotionless computer intelligence programmed to monitor the loyalty and obedience of the crew. But what they weren't prepared for was the smoke ringan immense gaseous envelope that had formed around a neutron star directly in their path. The Smoke Ring was home to a variety of plant and animal life-forms evolved to thrive in conditions of continual free-fall. When Discipline encountered it, something went wrong. The crew abandoned ship and fled to the unlikely space oasis. Five hundred years later, the descendants of the Discipline crew living on the Smoke Ring no longer remember their origins. Earth is more myth than memory, and no recollection of the State remains. But Kendy remembers. And just outside the Smoke Ring, Discipline waits patiently to make contact with its wayward children.
SUMMARY:
In the free-fall environment of the Smoke Ring, the descendants of the crew of the Discipline no longer remembered their Earth roots -- or the existence of Sharls Davis Kendy, the computer-program despot of the ship. Until Kendy initiated contact once more.Fourteen years later, only Jeffer, the Citizens Tree Scientist, knew that Kendy was still watching -- and waiting. Then the Citizens Tree people rescued a family of loggers and learned for the first time of the Admiralty, a large society living in free fall amid the floating debris called the Clump. And it was likely that the Admiralty had maintained, intact, Discipline's original computer library.Exploration was a temptation neither Jeffer nor Kendy could resist, and neither Citizens Tree nor Sharls Davis Kendy would ever be the same again...
In the free-fall environment of the Smoke Ring (an immense gaseous envelope and neutron star circling a habitable cluster of plants, trees and animals), descendants of the starship Discipline's crew no longer remember their Earth roots or the existence of Sharls Davis Kendy, the computer AI controlling the ship -- until Kendy initiated contact once more, 500 years after the crew whom the half-mad AI calls "mutineers" were abandoned on this strange world (see The Integral Trees).
Fourteen years later only Jeffer, the Citizens Tree "Scientist", knew that Kendy was watching and advising. When Citizens Tree rescues a family of loggers, they learn of the Admiralty, a military organization in a town unknown to Citizens Tree. Jeffer is among those who want to visit the town and the Admiralty, which may have maintained intact Discipline's original computer library. The events following the visit to the town and the subsequent flight from the Admiralty form part of this exciting tale of adventure, danger and courage.