Esterii

Esterii is a fictional celestial body featured in the science fiction novel "A Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge. Within the narrative, the High Throngs of Tines inhabit the planet Esterii, which is located in the "Slow Zone" of the galaxy. The Slow Zone is a region where the fundamental laws of the universe are believed to be different from those in the "Beyond," a faster and more technologically advanced area. Esterii is depicted as a world with a unique and complex ecosystem, shaped by the presence of the Tines, a species composed of multiple dog-like creatures that form a single, unified consciousness. The planet's environment and the Tines' society are intertwined, with their collective intelligence and unique physiology influencing their interactions with their home world. Esterii serves as a significant setting for the early development of the plot, introducing readers to the alien cultures and cosmic structures that define Vinge's expansive fictional universe. The planet's distinct characteristics are crucial to understanding the challenges and discoveries faced by the novel's protagonists.