Joan Vinge Books In Order

Publication Order of Cat Books

Publication Order of Heaven Chronicles Books

Publication Order of Snow Queen Cycle Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Isaac Asimov's Anthology Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Joan D Vinge
Joan D Vinge is an American author of science fiction and fantasy books. She came into limelight thanks to her award-winning novel Snow Queen, the first book in The Snow Queen Cycle series. Joan Vinge’s other works include the Cat series featuring a telepathic half-alien, and the Heaven’s Chronicles series. Vinge has taken a few classics, retelling them in a way no author has managed to do, and the results have been amazing.

The Snow Queen
The Snow Queen is the first book in The Snow Queen Cycle series. This book features Arienhod, the Snow Queen, Moon Dawntreader Summer, and Jerusha Palathon. Arienhod has been in power for the entire Winter Cycle. One hundred fifty years have passed, and it is now time to name the Summer Queen and offer Arienhod as a sacrificial offering for the new regime. Arienhod is unhappy about this arrangement, and she is looking for a way to change these plans and stay in power.
Moon is a member of the summer tribe who has always wanted to be a sibyl. To ensure that her dreams come true, Moon breaks her relationship with Spark only for Spark to be noticed by Arienhod. Once Moon becomes the sibyl, she takes a discovery voyage from Tiamat to Hegemony. Thanks to this voyage, Moon uncovers the mystery surrounding her ancestry as well as her purpose as a sibyl.

Jerusha is a police inspector in Tiamat whose primary duty is to protect the Hegemony by ensuring that unauthorized technology is not created. Hegemony is a consortium of planets that connect to their member planets using leftover empire technology. Thanks to small black holes, members of the Hegemony can instantaneously travel to their member planets. However, technology comes with its downsides and Jerusha works to Tiamet is a member of the Hegemony. The planet has a unique solar phenomenon, which makes it accessible for 150 of every 300 years. Tiamet is an essential component of the Hegemonic since it is the only source of water of life. For this reason, Tiamet is prevented from establishing a technology base that could hinder the flow of this water that retards ageing.

This book follows the happenings in Tiamet, making this a coming of age story for Snow and her people. It is through Snow’s action that the future of her people will be changed forever. Similarly, Moon takes a transformative adventure in a quest to save Spark from Snow. The juxtaposition of Winter and Summer to corrupt and innocent is well done, and it’s incredible how Spark’s character matches that of Kai in the Snow Queen fairytale. Will Snow be successful is stopping the Summer queen from taking over? How does the change in power dynamics affect those in Tiamet?

The Snow Queen is a science-fiction story featuring fairy tale themes. This political space opera creatively retells a classic with the same name by Christian Anderson. The author’s worldbuilding is excellent, and the story flows so well you will want to keep on reading this book for hours. Join the Snow Queen on this transformative journey characterized by political intrigue, constant drama, and an exciting cast.

Psion
Psion is the first book in the Cat series. The book stars Cat, an orphaned survivor hardened by life in the slums. Cat is half-alien and half-human, but he doesn’t know this until much later. The young man always wondered why people are so mean to him, but it all makes sense when he learns about his origin. Thanks to the trauma caused by his experiences, Cats abilities are blocked until he joins a program that changes his life.
The year is 2417, and Cat has just been arrested for engaging in petty crime. The police offer him a chance to avoid incarceration but participate in an experiment conducted by the government. Cat opts to go the program way, and what he learns about his nature and abilities surprise him. For one, Cat is a human with alien blood. He learns that people like him have telepathic ability, but his was lost due to psychic shock. The program allows Cat to go for therapy and training to ensure that he can use his inborn ability. So, how did a half-alien find himself living among humans?

Cat will discover new friends in this unusual group. These friends include Ardan, the telekinetic, Jule the empathetic teleporter, and Derezady the telepath. For the first time, Cat has a sense of belonging even though drama seems to follow him wherever he goes. Some enemies do not have his best interests at heart. Cat learns that there is more to the program that is teaching him and his friends to handle their gifts. There is a plan to use the program’s participants to capture a dangerous criminal named Quicksilver. Will Cat and his uniquely gifted friends obey their masters?

Behind the scenes, Cat is being enticed to join the villains. While this lifestyle would have appealed to him in the past, Cat is tired of playing games. He also has people he cares about, and he will do anything to ensure the situation doesn’t change. Even though his current lifestyle comes with severe punishment, Cat enjoys his attempted intimacy with Jules and the frequent fights with Ardan. Despite his tough exterior, Cat is a relatable character. It is clear that the hardships he has endured have hardened him, but he is sensitive and kind when the occasion calls for it. The rest of the cast is just as intriguing.

Psion is a futuristic sci-fi story featuring a street urchin turned hero. Vinge is an expert in worldbuilding, and her talent shines through in this future world where humans still play games even after interacting with aliens. This book is perfect if you like sci-fi stories with a diverse cast, a rising tension, and a tight plot. The ending is surprising but reasonable, and the unexpected turns along the way are sure to keep you glued to the pages.