I read TBP and A Deepness in the Sky at the same time. Despite the "big ideas", TBP isn't even in the same league. Can't bring myself to read the second TBP book, just don't care. Did buy a Fire Upon a Deep recently, looking forward to it.
"Rainbows End" is must-read cyberpunk IMO. (And of course he wrote "True Names". (In '81!))