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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Jacob Demwa does not want to be part of the 'Sundiver' (eponymous book one in the Uplift Saga) project. He is enjoying his current job on Earth at the Center for Uplift working with uplifted dolphins, testing their IQs and ability to work with mechanized tools. The dolphins are not as far along intellectually as the uplifted chimpanzees, but he enjoys their company nonetheless. But when the alien Fagin, a Kanten who is in charge of the Institute of Progress, asks him to join Dr. Dwayne Kepler of the Sundiver Expedition to research Mercury and the solar chromosphere, a project involving the use of new spaceships built with a combination of Earth science and technology mixed with the new alien technology from the aliens' galactic Institute of the Library, eventually Jacob gives in.
Jacob's reluctance is due to his grief over the death of his wife - he simply doesn't feel up to the rigors of dealing with the ongoing politics of various competing politicians, both alien and human. However, the opportunity to work with Bubbacub, the Pil in charge of the Earth Branch of the Library Institute, the most important alien ambassador on Earth who also is in charge of the most important institution on Earth, entices Jacob to take the job. He is also very curious about the other alien he meets for the first time - Culla, a Pring who is acting as a servant to Bubbacub. Prings are a client race of the Patron Pilas.
All recently uplifted intelligent aliens must serve a Patron/Client period of a thousand years after a Patron race has uplifted Client aliens to intelligent sentience from the lowly state of mere instinctual animals. As it happened, humans have uplifted dolphins and chimps, the minimum number of uplifts required to be awarded Patron status in this universe of David Brin, the author. Humans had serendipitously been working on uplifting Earth animals before they knew about any space aliens or their Patron/Client political system. However, some of the alien Patron races feel humans do not deserve Patron status despite the uplift of dolphins and chimps because the aliens could not determine who uplifted humans. Many ET (extraterrestrial) races consider humans a wild-wolf species who mysteriously became a high tech society without a Patron who taught them from the resources of the Library, and it is very disturbing to them.
The journey to the underground base on Mercury is uneventful, but after scientists show Jacob what they discovered and why they wanted Jacob's help, a murder is committed! Everyone there has been cleared by psychological exams of being capable of murder! Who did it and why? They all could die next! One of them is a being a bad alien...
This is a fun hard-science read. I liked it a lot, but some readers thought it old-fashioned or dated. 'Sundiver' was first published in 1980, which I consider in the golden age of adult literary science fiction (the 1950's are usually called the 'Golden Age of science fiction', but I don't agree as many of the SF books I've read from that stifling 1950's era seem ploddingly mechanical to me). 'Sundiver' is book one in the Uplift series and it introduces in a whirlwind manner Brin's uplift universe. Some readers thought the tech was old, but I think I should mention the TV show 'Star Trek' was first shown in 1966, and the first men walked on the moon in 1969. I do not think the technology and science in this novel so very dated at all as it surpasses what we had to get men on the moon and equals the technology of the original Star Trek TV show.
Jacob's reluctance is due to his grief over the death of his wife - he simply doesn't feel up to the rigors of dealing with the ongoing politics of various competing politicians, both alien and human. However, the opportunity to work with Bubbacub, the Pil in charge of the Earth Branch of the Library Institute, the most important alien ambassador on Earth who also is in charge of the most important institution on Earth, entices Jacob to take the job. He is also very curious about the other alien he meets for the first time - Culla, a Pring who is acting as a servant to Bubbacub. Prings are a client race of the Patron Pilas.
All recently uplifted intelligent aliens must serve a Patron/Client period of a thousand years after a Patron race has uplifted Client aliens to intelligent sentience from the lowly state of mere instinctual animals. As it happened, humans have uplifted dolphins and chimps, the minimum number of uplifts required to be awarded Patron status in this universe of David Brin, the author. Humans had serendipitously been working on uplifting Earth animals before they knew about any space aliens or their Patron/Client political system. However, some of the alien Patron races feel humans do not deserve Patron status despite the uplift of dolphins and chimps because the aliens could not determine who uplifted humans. Many ET (extraterrestrial) races consider humans a wild-wolf species who mysteriously became a high tech society without a Patron who taught them from the resources of the Library, and it is very disturbing to them.
The journey to the underground base on Mercury is uneventful, but after scientists show Jacob what they discovered and why they wanted Jacob's help, a murder is committed! Everyone there has been cleared by psychological exams of being capable of murder! Who did it and why? They all could die next! One of them is a being a bad alien...
This is a fun hard-science read. I liked it a lot, but some readers thought it old-fashioned or dated. 'Sundiver' was first published in 1980, which I consider in the golden age of adult literary science fiction (the 1950's are usually called the 'Golden Age of science fiction', but I don't agree as many of the SF books I've read from that stifling 1950's era seem ploddingly mechanical to me). 'Sundiver' is book one in the Uplift series and it introduces in a whirlwind manner Brin's uplift universe. Some readers thought the tech was old, but I think I should mention the TV show 'Star Trek' was first shown in 1966, and the first men walked on the moon in 1969. I do not think the technology and science in this novel so very dated at all as it surpasses what we had to get men on the moon and equals the technology of the original Star Trek TV show.
Sundiver isn't very good. The premise is interesting, but not so much as the world the book takes place in. The plot, characters and writing, however can't really deliver on any of it.
The main character is essentially a completely uninteresting version of a Mary Sue, presented as infinitely capable with a mysterious past that is never really explored. All of the problems in the novel are obviously just waiting for him to solve them effortlessly.
The problems facing the sundiver crew are sort of nonsensical and contrived, with mostly obvious antagonists doing pointless things, seemingly only to further the plot. Even when there are twists, they are just kind of uninteresting, nonsensical, and pointless.
The only redemption this book has is Brin's wider universe of patrons and uplifted races, which is apparently more important in his later books, and only has a minor intersection with this story.
Even if you are interested in this world (the only reason I read this book!) you should absolutely skip this one.
The main character is essentially a completely uninteresting version of a Mary Sue, presented as infinitely capable with a mysterious past that is never really explored. All of the problems in the novel are obviously just waiting for him to solve them effortlessly.
The problems facing the sundiver crew are sort of nonsensical and contrived, with mostly obvious antagonists doing pointless things, seemingly only to further the plot. Even when there are twists, they are just kind of uninteresting, nonsensical, and pointless.
The only redemption this book has is Brin's wider universe of patrons and uplifted races, which is apparently more important in his later books, and only has a minor intersection with this story.
Even if you are interested in this world (the only reason I read this book!) you should absolutely skip this one.
More like 3.5. it's a novel of its time in many ways. Although even for1980 very much a throwback to older writers like Asimov in terms of style and to some extent attitude. This is a writer who writes with a conceptual understanding that gender equality will happen in the future to some extent but writes things along the lines of 'as good as any man'.
But it's a good plot with some bonkers sci-fi ideas thrown around.
Also he decides ( I don't think in any gender progressive way) women will get called femmes. But men won't get called mascs oh no. The male term will be mels which is very funny.
But it's a good plot with some bonkers sci-fi ideas thrown around.
Also he decides ( I don't think in any gender progressive way) women will get called femmes. But men won't get called mascs oh no. The male term will be mels which is very funny.
Edition read was the following: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17059176-uplift
I'll do a proper review later on, maybe, but I am disappointed in this first installment.
The premise is amazing: Humanity made contact with other oxygen-breathing species from all over the Galaxy. Humanity is considered a strange case, since they don't seem to have "patrons" that have evolved them to sencience; apparently we did this without the aid of another species (by natural evolution) and, as such, don't have the Client-Patron relationship that most species throughout the Galaxy have.
So, Humanity is special and there is that mystery: did we really have a Patron? Did we evolve on our own?
At the same time, Earth is preparing to go on an expedition to the Sun, using a mix of human and galactic tech. And we do find what seems to be life on the Sun! Who are these life-forms? Can they be Humanity's long lost Patrons?
All fascinating right? But we never get answers because this book is about the protagonist solving a mystery on board the Sunship. Apparently some crafty aliens don't want Humankind to succeed.
The mystery was so stale and presented in such an illogical way (we only knew something was happening because suddenly the main character would say "aha! Conspiracy" and proceed to explain what alien A or B had done to sabotage the enterprise) that it had very little interest.
The characters had no developement and were very stereotypical. And the fascinating premise was never explored!
Overall, a weak first book. Let's see what happens in books 2 and 3.
----------------------
Portuguese review:
Já há algum tempo que ando para ler David Brin. Na verdade, desde que peguei, há muitos anos, num dos livros dele, publicados pela Europa-América que o meu pai tem lá por casa e li sobre golfinhos sencientes!
Acho que acabei por não ler o livro todo, mas quando me deparei com uma edição 3 em 1 da trilogia original "Uplift" (Elevação), não resisti a comprar.
O primeiro livro, intitulado, "Sundiver" abre com o nosso protagonista a fazer experiências no sentido de modificar os golfinhos de forma a que estes sejam "elevados" ao nível dos seres humanos. Mas cedo, o protagonista (cujo nome eu não me lembro, e nem estou a brincar) é chamado como "consultor" numa outra experiência: humanos estão a realizar uma das experiências mais incríveis de sempre: uma expedição ao Sol. Mas surgiram problemas e, então, o nosso herói (mas como é que ele se chama, pá?) é chamado a investigar.
Devo dizer que não fiquei grandemente impressionada com este primeiro livro. Tem uma premissa tão boa, mas desperdiça-a para se focar num mistério desinteressante e algo simplista.
A premissa geral é a seguinte: a Humanidade estabeleceu contacto com centenas de espécies na Galáxia que, como eles, respiram oxigénio. E descobriu, no processo, que ao contrário dessas espécies fogem ao padrão estabelecido há muito pelos misteriosos Progenitores: as espécies sencientes "elevam" outras espécies (pré-sencientes) para um estado de senciência, criando laços reminiscentes de uma sociedade feudal: os que elevam são os benfeitores e os elevados são, durante algum tempo, seus "clientes", no sentido de lhes deverem a senciência.
Todo este processo é registado numa Biblioteca galáctica que contém informações sobre as espécies da Galáxia e sobre todo o seu conhecimento tecnológico, científico, filosófico, etc. Como tal, nesta sociedade galáctica todo o saber é reciclado.
Os humanos, como não podia deixar de ser, são diferentes. Não se conhecem benfeitores para esta raça e tudo indica que evoluiram da pré-senciência para a senciência naturalmente. Darwin e tudo o mais.
E agora, os humanos estão a levar a cabo experiências, algo que as outras espécies não compreendem: para quê experimentar, se já está tudo na Biblioteca? E a tal expedição ao Sol é mais uma dessas experiências.
O enredo bem se podia focar num destes interessantes pontos: onde estão os benfeitores dos terráquios? Será que evoluímos mesmo sozinhos?
Ou mesmo: será que o Sol é habitado? Porque parece ser essa a conclusão a que chegam os investigadores. E serão os habitantes do Sol os benfeitores da Terra?
Mas não. O enredo tem contornos bem mais simplistas e nenhuma das temáticas acima é abordada. Na verdade este livro é um... mistério.
E nem sequer é um bom mistério. O livro parece estar a descrever uma investigação científica normal até o protagonista ter um momento eureka e dizer a todos "juntem-se na sala X" e, depois, explicar a todos como fulano e sicrano fizeram isto e aquilo. O leitor nunca saberia que algo estava errado se o protagonista não o dissesse! Não há processo de investigação, suspense, nada. Num momento temos uma explosão suspeita, no seguinte o protagonista dá-nos uma solução.
As personagens também estão bastante mal exploradas; são estereótipos e nenhuma prima pela complexidade.
No geral, um primeiro livro bastante fraco. Poderia ter explorado tantas coisas interessantes, que o facto de se ter focado num mistério corriqueiro de "quem está a tentar sabotar a missão de exploração dos seres humanos" foi sinceramente desapontante.
I'll do a proper review later on, maybe, but I am disappointed in this first installment.
The premise is amazing: Humanity made contact with other oxygen-breathing species from all over the Galaxy. Humanity is considered a strange case, since they don't seem to have "patrons" that have evolved them to sencience; apparently we did this without the aid of another species (by natural evolution) and, as such, don't have the Client-Patron relationship that most species throughout the Galaxy have.
So, Humanity is special and there is that mystery: did we really have a Patron? Did we evolve on our own?
At the same time, Earth is preparing to go on an expedition to the Sun, using a mix of human and galactic tech. And we do find what seems to be life on the Sun! Who are these life-forms? Can they be Humanity's long lost Patrons?
All fascinating right? But we never get answers because this book is about the protagonist solving a mystery on board the Sunship. Apparently some crafty aliens don't want Humankind to succeed.
The mystery was so stale and presented in such an illogical way (we only knew something was happening because suddenly the main character would say "aha! Conspiracy" and proceed to explain what alien A or B had done to sabotage the enterprise) that it had very little interest.
The characters had no developement and were very stereotypical. And the fascinating premise was never explored!
Overall, a weak first book. Let's see what happens in books 2 and 3.
----------------------
Portuguese review:
Já há algum tempo que ando para ler David Brin. Na verdade, desde que peguei, há muitos anos, num dos livros dele, publicados pela Europa-América que o meu pai tem lá por casa e li sobre golfinhos sencientes!
Acho que acabei por não ler o livro todo, mas quando me deparei com uma edição 3 em 1 da trilogia original "Uplift" (Elevação), não resisti a comprar.
O primeiro livro, intitulado, "Sundiver" abre com o nosso protagonista a fazer experiências no sentido de modificar os golfinhos de forma a que estes sejam "elevados" ao nível dos seres humanos. Mas cedo, o protagonista (cujo nome eu não me lembro, e nem estou a brincar) é chamado como "consultor" numa outra experiência: humanos estão a realizar uma das experiências mais incríveis de sempre: uma expedição ao Sol. Mas surgiram problemas e, então, o nosso herói (mas como é que ele se chama, pá?) é chamado a investigar.
Devo dizer que não fiquei grandemente impressionada com este primeiro livro. Tem uma premissa tão boa, mas desperdiça-a para se focar num mistério desinteressante e algo simplista.
A premissa geral é a seguinte: a Humanidade estabeleceu contacto com centenas de espécies na Galáxia que, como eles, respiram oxigénio. E descobriu, no processo, que ao contrário dessas espécies fogem ao padrão estabelecido há muito pelos misteriosos Progenitores: as espécies sencientes "elevam" outras espécies (pré-sencientes) para um estado de senciência, criando laços reminiscentes de uma sociedade feudal: os que elevam são os benfeitores e os elevados são, durante algum tempo, seus "clientes", no sentido de lhes deverem a senciência.
Todo este processo é registado numa Biblioteca galáctica que contém informações sobre as espécies da Galáxia e sobre todo o seu conhecimento tecnológico, científico, filosófico, etc. Como tal, nesta sociedade galáctica todo o saber é reciclado.
Os humanos, como não podia deixar de ser, são diferentes. Não se conhecem benfeitores para esta raça e tudo indica que evoluiram da pré-senciência para a senciência naturalmente. Darwin e tudo o mais.
E agora, os humanos estão a levar a cabo experiências, algo que as outras espécies não compreendem: para quê experimentar, se já está tudo na Biblioteca? E a tal expedição ao Sol é mais uma dessas experiências.
O enredo bem se podia focar num destes interessantes pontos: onde estão os benfeitores dos terráquios? Será que evoluímos mesmo sozinhos?
Ou mesmo: será que o Sol é habitado? Porque parece ser essa a conclusão a que chegam os investigadores. E serão os habitantes do Sol os benfeitores da Terra?
Mas não. O enredo tem contornos bem mais simplistas e nenhuma das temáticas acima é abordada. Na verdade este livro é um... mistério.
E nem sequer é um bom mistério. O livro parece estar a descrever uma investigação científica normal até o protagonista ter um momento eureka e dizer a todos "juntem-se na sala X" e, depois, explicar a todos como fulano e sicrano fizeram isto e aquilo. O leitor nunca saberia que algo estava errado se o protagonista não o dissesse! Não há processo de investigação, suspense, nada. Num momento temos uma explosão suspeita, no seguinte o protagonista dá-nos uma solução.
As personagens também estão bastante mal exploradas; são estereótipos e nenhuma prima pela complexidade.
No geral, um primeiro livro bastante fraco. Poderia ter explorado tantas coisas interessantes, que o facto de se ter focado num mistério corriqueiro de "quem está a tentar sabotar a missão de exploração dos seres humanos" foi sinceramente desapontante.
This was great! I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Crazy ideas and alien races of all kinds, I loved it!
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It might have been an interesting story, but the main hero is one of those people that you hate at first sight. Thanks to his amazing properties appearing out of nowhere, the whole book degrades into not that believable heap of loosely connected events, and the plot seems to be generated using d10 rolls.
Disappointing.
Disappointing.
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked it fairly enough, but did feel it was a little more surface level than I would have liked for characters. I did theorize one aspect of the mystery correctly, but not others. Held my interest enough throughout, but don't think I will delve deeper into the series.