The mind, whatever it is embodied in, seeks to push the boundaries of the unknown. The unknown usually resists. But the farther away from the center of the Galaxy, the weaker this resistance is: in the Beyond, almost everything becomes possible, and in Transcendence, just everything. Minds that have attained Transcendence become Forces all-powerful, though not immortal. Human curiosity leads to the awakening of an ancient and extremely aggressive entity. The attempt of people to evacuate from the infected zone at least children ends with an emergency landing of the ship on a planet inhabited by unusual creatures. Brother and sister are left alone with a mysterious civilization A little help is given to them, but they will not be able to find it. But very soon the ancient Evil will sit on his tail, learning that a runaway starship has taken not only children from under his nose, but also something that can stop the Death itself... Flame on the Deep, part of the Zones of Thought series, is one of the best space operas of the twentieth century, which has won many prestigious awards and prizes and has been translated into all European languages. This novel combines the original concept of the universe, an abundance of interesting ideas, a twisted plot and a tense intrigue. This edition also includes the story "The Butterfly", adjacent to the cycle.