Anyone read the Uplift novels?

[Markness]

The Uplift novels are a series of science fiction novels by David Brin. In the Uplift universe, it’s generally thought a species can only reach sentience by being “uplifted” by a more advanced one. Humanity has uplifted chimpanzees and dolphins to sentience (or at least close enough) and that gets us noticed by a galactic conglomerate of aliens called the Five Galaxies whose culture is based around the concept of uplift. Unlike Star Trek or Star Wars, humanity is not a ‘leading species’. We are hundreds or even millennia behind many other species and one of the few things that kept us from getting exterminated by a more advanced civilization was the fact we had unknowingly achieved “Patron” status by having two “client” species. However, the fact humanity has no “Patron” baffles many of the different factions of aliens and some even think the claim we naturally evolved is stupid as well as heretical. Fortunately, not all of the aliens hate us. I like how humans aren’t the only Earthlings and the adventures are very gripping. The books were also an inspiration for the Ecco the Dolphin games and David Brin even wrote the story for the last Ecco game.

The original three books that came out in the 80’s are Sundiver, Startide Rising, and the Uplift War. They can be considered a trilogy but they also aren’t a traditional one. Startide Rising takes place 200 years after Sundiver. The Uplift War also takes place at the same time as Startide Rising but on a different planet.

The Uplift Storm Trilogy was released in the 90’s and the books are Brightness Reef, Infinity’s Shore, and Heaven’s Reach. They are a more traditional trilogy and must be read in order. There is also a short story called Temptation that came out in 1999 that takes place after Heaven’s Reach and was meant to lead to another Uplift novel. However, David Brin has yet to return to the Uplift universe. I hope he will sometime this decade.

 

[Thinx]

Thanks! I haven't read these but they sound interesting, I ll look out for them. I like reading about other possible worlds, and especially trilogies or linked series of stories.

 

[Skittlebisquit]

Wow, yes i have the first three, and never heard of the rest. There is another trilogy? My favorite was uplift war. I just found them the other day, i am sorting books again. Brin wrote some other things too i think. I will add the uplift storm trilogy to my wish list.

 

[OkRad]

Sounds like a cool read. I don't read fiction but I might read this because it's nice to read things others are reading and talk about it. I will try to find it, in fact. I like the idea that we have to ascend ourselves. I try every day. In the world's eyes I am a total failure.

Those who know me seem to think I have made good use of my mind and brain. But as all your Aspies know, we have no choice but to do that and how often has it come to what seems to be nothing? But these books look to say it does NOT mean nothing.

On a different note I do not think humans have ascended dolphins at all. They don't murder little children and build bombs. Humans wrote the books so sure, they will say we ascended. Bees are way better than we are. You never see a bee all alone, cold and homeless, kicked out by other bees to fend a one in a cold, dark world. But I can overlook that bias :-D

 

[Markness]

Thanks! I haven't read these but they sound interesting, I ll look out for them. I like reading about other possible worlds, and especially trilogies or linked series of stories.

You’re welcome. It’s a series that definitely needs more attention.

Wow, yes i have the first three, and never heard of the rest. There is another trilogy? My favorite was uplift war. I just found them the other day, i am sorting books again. Brin wrote some other things too i think. I will add the uplift storm trilogy to my wish list.

I’ve read it wasn’t received as well as the original books. I thought they were good and I hope David Brin will eventually tie up the loose ends from it as well as the short story.