Endores

Endores is a fictional planet featured in the science fiction novel "A Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge. It is a world inhabited by the Tines, a species of sentient, pack-minded canines. The Tines are characterized by their ability to form a single consciousness when a group of them gather closely, a phenomenon known as "counting" or "the Tines' mind." Individual Tines are incapable of complex thought or individual identity, but when several are together, they achieve a higher level of intelligence.

The novel describes Endores as a planet with a challenging environment, supporting the evolution of such a unique species. The Tines live in a society that is deeply integrated with their pack-based consciousness. They are depicted as being technologically advanced, though their technology is often an extension of their collective mind. The Tines' social structure and their unique form of intelligence are central to their portrayal in the story, serving as a significant element of the novel's exploration of consciousness and artificial intelligence. Endores is not a physically described setting in great detail, but rather a conceptual backdrop for the Tines and their way of life, which plays a crucial role in the broader narrative of "A Fire Upon the Deep."