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The Uplift Saga #4-6
The Uplift Storm Trilogy: Brightness Reef, Infinity's Shore, Heaven's Reach
The award-winning author's complete second trilogy of the Uplift Saga, featuring a planet of refugees, a fugitive Earthling ship, and her dolphin/human crew.
Brightness Reef
Six outcast races hunker down on the off-limits planet Jijo when a mysterious starship lands. However, it doesn't bring the "law" they feared, but something worse--a dark secret the invaders will do anything to keep . . .
Infinity's Shore
Earthship Streaker, with its dolphin and human crew, has been on the run for three years after discovering a derelict armada whose mere existence seems to drive the Five Galaxies mad. With Earth under siege and nowhere to turn, Streaker has come to far-off, isolated Jijo in search of sanctuary amid its population of secret refugees. Unfortunately, they've been followed . . .
Heaven's Reach
With the arrival of deadly enemies, the peaceful isolation of Jijo's six exile races has ended. While the races join forces to fight invaders, the Earthship Streaker must lure other foes into weird layers of the unknown. Meanwhile, a dire prophecy may put the entire universe at risk . . .
Praise for the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Uplift Saga
"An extraordinary achievement." --Poul Anderson, award-winning author of Tau Zero, on Startide Rising
"An exhilarating read that encompasses everything from breathless action to finely drawn moments of quiet intimacy." --Locus on The Uplift War
"Tremendously inventive, ambitious work." --Kirkus Reviews on Brightness Reef
"Well paced, immensely complex, highly literate . . . Superior SF." --Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Infinity's Shore
"A timely, science fictional contemplation of the refugee experience."--Santa Fe Reporter on Brightness Reef
Brightness Reef
Six outcast races hunker down on the off-limits planet Jijo when a mysterious starship lands. However, it doesn't bring the "law" they feared, but something worse--a dark secret the invaders will do anything to keep . . .
Infinity's Shore
Earthship Streaker, with its dolphin and human crew, has been on the run for three years after discovering a derelict armada whose mere existence seems to drive the Five Galaxies mad. With Earth under siege and nowhere to turn, Streaker has come to far-off, isolated Jijo in search of sanctuary amid its population of secret refugees. Unfortunately, they've been followed . . .
Heaven's Reach
With the arrival of deadly enemies, the peaceful isolation of Jijo's six exile races has ended. While the races join forces to fight invaders, the Earthship Streaker must lure other foes into weird layers of the unknown. Meanwhile, a dire prophecy may put the entire universe at risk . . .
Praise for the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Uplift Saga
"An extraordinary achievement." --Poul Anderson, award-winning author of Tau Zero, on Startide Rising
"An exhilarating read that encompasses everything from breathless action to finely drawn moments of quiet intimacy." --Locus on The Uplift War
"Tremendously inventive, ambitious work." --Kirkus Reviews on Brightness Reef
"Well paced, immensely complex, highly literate . . . Superior SF." --Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Infinity's Shore
"A timely, science fictional contemplation of the refugee experience."--Santa Fe Reporter on Brightness Reef
1995 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
David Brin
329 books3,342 followersDavid Brin is a scientist, speaker, and world-known author. His novels have been New York Times Bestsellers, winning multiple Hugo, Nebula and other awards. At least a dozen have been translated into more than twenty languages.
Existence, his latest novel, offers an unusual scenario for first contact. His ecological thriller, Earth, foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and near-future trends such as the World Wide Web. A movie, directed by Kevin Costner, was loosely based on his post-apocalyptic novel, The Postman. Startide Rising won the Hugo and Nebula Awards for best novel. The Uplift War also won the Hugo Award.
His non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with secrecy in the modern world. It won the Freedom of Speech Prize from the American Library Association.
Brin serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI, nanotechnology, and philanthropy.
David appears frequently on TV, including "The Universe" and on the History Channel's "Life After People."
Full and updated at:
http://www.davidbrin.com/biography.htm
Existence, his latest novel, offers an unusual scenario for first contact. His ecological thriller, Earth, foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and near-future trends such as the World Wide Web. A movie, directed by Kevin Costner, was loosely based on his post-apocalyptic novel, The Postman. Startide Rising won the Hugo and Nebula Awards for best novel. The Uplift War also won the Hugo Award.
His non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with secrecy in the modern world. It won the Freedom of Speech Prize from the American Library Association.
Brin serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI, nanotechnology, and philanthropy.
David appears frequently on TV, including "The Universe" and on the History Channel's "Life After People."
Full and updated at:
http://www.davidbrin.com/biography.htm
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 18, 2021
Fantastic collection of SF
Bought on an early bird special. I have purchased the physical books several times for this trilogy and the rest of the series for my own use and for gifts for friends.
I absolutely adore this setting and the blend of fantastical elements and hard science. There is a really good short story elsewhere that continues this trilogy and gives insight on the aliens behind the curtain doing experimentation on the wild sentients that I recommend. Never underestimate our dolphin kin.
Bought on an early bird special. I have purchased the physical books several times for this trilogy and the rest of the series for my own use and for gifts for friends.
I absolutely adore this setting and the blend of fantastical elements and hard science. There is a really good short story elsewhere that continues this trilogy and gives insight on the aliens behind the curtain doing experimentation on the wild sentients that I recommend. Never underestimate our dolphin kin.
August 25, 2014
A rare, rare thing happened. I Gave up on it after 200-odd pages. Too much for now. Will try again later sometime.
Funny, since I've liked Brin's previous work a lot. This one was just too slow to start, too jaded, too... ...je ne sais quoi. Too bad.
Funny, since I've liked Brin's previous work a lot. This one was just too slow to start, too jaded, too... ...je ne sais quoi. Too bad.
October 9, 2026
Book 1 Brightness Reef 4 stars
A very different story set in the Five Galaxies from the earlier books. I did not go in wanting a story of escaped outcasts on a backwater world, but it won me over. The intricate building out of the varied sapient species and cultures was very well presented, with a slow unfolding mystery. This is a world to linger with, bursting with creative uniqueness.
The multiple viewpoints takes some getting used to.
The climax is an odd and abrupt choice for a cliffhanger.
Book 2 Infinity’s Shore 4 stars
The book begins with a fantastic way to recap the previous book through other perspectives. The wonder of the characters comes out throughout the book, and the species are developed further. If there are any complaints is that there is maybe one too many plots, and another odd cliffhanger moment . This is where the adventure kicks into gear, with the Jophurs as excellent and unrepentant antagonists.
Book 3 Heaven’s Reach 3 stars
A major letdown for the crescendo of six books, not so much in the occurrences as the jerky path through them. Too many events described through recent or immediate recall rather than just being in the moment. Other issues? There is too much exposition, and too much repetition. Some connective scenes would have really helped the flow. More was crammed in than the plot could fit, but for all that there are a few unresolved cliffhangers from Jijo out of Infinity’s Shore. A lot happens off-page, especially concerning Tsh’t and the Rothen’s paths. If this was a television show, you would think they were suddenly written out during production due to a contract dispute with the actors.
Despite that, there are big ideas and big reaches that are satisfying.
A very different story set in the Five Galaxies from the earlier books. I did not go in wanting a story of escaped outcasts on a backwater world, but it won me over. The intricate building out of the varied sapient species and cultures was very well presented, with a slow unfolding mystery. This is a world to linger with, bursting with creative uniqueness.
The multiple viewpoints takes some getting used to.
The climax is an odd and abrupt choice for a cliffhanger.
Book 2 Infinity’s Shore 4 stars
The book begins with a fantastic way to recap the previous book through other perspectives. The wonder of the characters comes out throughout the book, and the species are developed further. If there are any complaints is that there is maybe one too many plots, and another odd cliffhanger moment . This is where the adventure kicks into gear, with the Jophurs as excellent and unrepentant antagonists.
Book 3 Heaven’s Reach 3 stars
A major letdown for the crescendo of six books, not so much in the occurrences as the jerky path through them. Too many events described through recent or immediate recall rather than just being in the moment. Other issues? There is too much exposition, and too much repetition. Some connective scenes would have really helped the flow. More was crammed in than the plot could fit, but for all that there are a few unresolved cliffhangers from Jijo out of Infinity’s Shore. A lot happens off-page, especially concerning Tsh’t and the Rothen’s paths. If this was a television show, you would think they were suddenly written out during production due to a contract dispute with the actors.
Despite that, there are big ideas and big reaches that are satisfying.
February 28, 2024
This is utterly incomplete unless all three books are considered as one; there is no stand-alone component. The reward for many hours of reading about interesting characters and situations is a completely mystical and mixed-up deus ex machina ending that is at odds with the first 90 percent of the story. Totally disappointing and a waste of time unless you’re stuck on a trans ocean flight with nothing else to do.
December 6, 2025
Fascinating but flawed
I found this series full of interesting ideas and characters. I think it would have been improved by better editing. There are too many passages recapping on things that have happened before, and this clogs the momentum. But it's really interesting and as a non- scientifically minded person I loved the way the author brought interstellar travel to life.
I found this series full of interesting ideas and characters. I think it would have been improved by better editing. There are too many passages recapping on things that have happened before, and this clogs the momentum. But it's really interesting and as a non- scientifically minded person I loved the way the author brought interstellar travel to life.
December 22, 2023
Excellent sci-fi series.
December 20, 2024
Cerebral but engaging.
March 9, 2025
Very good
There are some great characters who carry this story, and the ideas are very big...if not fully explored to my mind.
There are some great characters who carry this story, and the ideas are very big...if not fully explored to my mind.
June 27, 2025
Going to have to re-shelve this for later. Brin got too fancy with Brightness Reef, which is first volume of this omni.
As in the prior volume, The Uplift War, he has each chapter rotate through several characters POV, then repeat next chapter. The problem with this volume is he divided it into two segments, the Book of Slope & the Book of Sea, THEN alternated chapters from each AND ALSO each chapter having different characters rotating.
I ended up losing the threads more than once, and am finding it too difficult to pick up without restarting...which I might, or I might just skip it and goto the next two volumes, which DON'T utilize that device
next attempt: skipped over Brightness Reef and tried to pick up with the next book, Infinity's Shore.
While not as bad as Brightness Reef, I still found this too complex... In the beginning, there are not pages, but dozens of pages of Races Involved, Cast of Characters, a Glossary of Terms(!) & other stuff you'll need to remember going through the very complex, multi-threaded story.
No, calling it a multi-story is more accurate. Really, the entire trilogy should have been trimmed of a bunch of extraneous stuffing, or un-woven into the separate stories they really are.
As in the prior volume, The Uplift War, he has each chapter rotate through several characters POV, then repeat next chapter. The problem with this volume is he divided it into two segments, the Book of Slope & the Book of Sea, THEN alternated chapters from each AND ALSO each chapter having different characters rotating.
I ended up losing the threads more than once, and am finding it too difficult to pick up without restarting...which I might, or I might just skip it and goto the next two volumes, which DON'T utilize that device
next attempt: skipped over Brightness Reef and tried to pick up with the next book, Infinity's Shore.
While not as bad as Brightness Reef, I still found this too complex... In the beginning, there are not pages, but dozens of pages of Races Involved, Cast of Characters, a Glossary of Terms(!) & other stuff you'll need to remember going through the very complex, multi-threaded story.
No, calling it a multi-story is more accurate. Really, the entire trilogy should have been trimmed of a bunch of extraneous stuffing, or un-woven into the separate stories they really are.
January 21, 2015
The first and second books are slow, and small in scope. I was worried that there would be little resolution of the events set in motion during the first Uplift books. However during the third book things really kick back into gear, the scope opens back up, and in the end I was satisfied with the conclusion. 3* for the first two, 4* for the third.
March 20, 2013
Unlike the first 3 Uplift books, this is an actual trilogy. It gives some resolution to the background events, but still leaves a lot unsaid. That doesn't bother me as much, but would love to read more from this universe.
September 29, 2016
Interesting aliens, intergalactic policy, transcendents, but way too long, 3 long books appended to tell one space opera story is ultimately a bit boring (as often, the first part of the trilogy is the best by far)
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September 18, 2018Enjoyed
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews