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jpraska006's review against another edition
3.5
With Sundiver, David Brin clearly has an abundance of cool, intelligent, and unique ideas. The hard science and the concepts within this book are super fun to dig into. I loved the in-depth descriptions of sun-ships and the sheer awe inspired in our characters from witnessing the sun-creatures (or, Solarians) was great. The characterizations and some of the melodrama, however, seemed to be where Brin faltered a bit for me. And, ultimately, this is fine. I can get behind stories that are idea-heavy rather than character-focused. But in this case, the murder mystery plot didn't do much for me and the main character, Jacob, was just a bit too smart and overly smug about it for my taste. Despite that, I still enjoyed the book quite a bit!
loomisknows's review against another edition
4.0
Sundiver is a strange book. There is a definite male voice in it and it is a product of its time period. That wasn't a bad thing, but in more than a few instances it was very weird for me as a female reader. There were just certain things that creeped me out a little, like the protagonist getting knocked out and as he wakes up knowing a woman is there because he can smell her. The female characters are just a bit weird, they oscillate between competent and damselling. For a lot of the book, I felt like there must have been a book before I had missed because it references an event throughout that never actually gets explored.
All that said, it was interesting and the alien designs are interesting. One of them is basically sentient broccoli. I also think this kind of sci-fi is from a nostalgic period where even if it is a little jank here and there it has a kinda hope and ethos that is hard for modern writers to have 40 years later.
All that said, it was interesting and the alien designs are interesting. One of them is basically sentient broccoli. I also think this kind of sci-fi is from a nostalgic period where even if it is a little jank here and there it has a kinda hope and ethos that is hard for modern writers to have 40 years later.
tomasthanes's review against another edition
5.0
This novel is the first book in the "Uplift Saga Series" (and the author's first published novel) and from what I understand the series gets better and better but you usually have to start at the beginning. It's a "very good place to start".
There is so much to like about this book:
* The science runs deep. This is certainly a "hard scifi" (meaning that the author took special care to get the science right).
* It's about space ships that dive into the Sun and live to tell about it!
* There are uplifted creatures (and later, a vast hierarchy of uplifted species).
* There are societal layers (sort of like the Citizens in Starship Troopers) except that you have a radio implanted in your butt; not a big radio; okay, I may be exaggerating.
* Oh, and there are aliens (and not the Star Trekky humanoid aliens, men in rubber suits); creatures who are truly alien and very "exo" (like the "protomolecule" in the Expanse novels). Oh, and there are "aliens" on the Sun (in the novel, not IRL). Never trust a Pil; they're tough to swallow. Beware of aliens who shoot lasers with their eyes.
I wonder if the author will return to the Needle episode and provide more context in future novels.
There was a lot happening under the surface of the story that was hard to see, as if through a Lyot window.
There were Tolkien references in the book: "...Imperturbable as Bombadil."
Dr. Jeffery died. It was a shame. He had a wicked sense of humor.
There is so much to like about this book:
* The science runs deep. This is certainly a "hard scifi" (meaning that the author took special care to get the science right).
* It's about space ships that dive into the Sun and live to tell about it!
* There are uplifted creatures (and later, a vast hierarchy of uplifted species).
* There are societal layers (sort of like the Citizens in Starship Troopers) except that you have a radio implanted in your butt; not a big radio; okay, I may be exaggerating.
* Oh, and there are aliens (and not the Star Trekky humanoid aliens, men in rubber suits); creatures who are truly alien and very "exo" (like the "protomolecule" in the Expanse novels). Oh, and there are "aliens" on the Sun (in the novel, not IRL). Never trust a Pil; they're tough to swallow. Beware of aliens who shoot lasers with their eyes.
I wonder if the author will return to the Needle episode and provide more context in future novels.
There was a lot happening under the surface of the story that was hard to see, as if through a Lyot window.
There were Tolkien references in the book: "...Imperturbable as Bombadil."
Dr. Jeffery died. It was a shame. He had a wicked sense of humor.
jackmedia's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
britishkoalatea's review against another edition
5.0
Still one of my favourites. Giant sentient broccoli are the good guys, teddy bears are the bad guys, and you're right at the start of the Uplift Saga, which is a good read.
gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
2.0
I quit partway though this book, because it was just unreadably cheesy. A friend says that the other books in the series don't depend on this one, so I'll be trying one of them instead.
imakandiway's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
kennethtcox's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
outcolder's review against another edition
3.0
"The Library" is sort of a bad guy, frowning on innovation and independent research? A talking tree that tinkles? Dolphins that tell dirty limericks? A macho space hippy that meditates so much that tens of pages of psychedelic guided imagery actually move the story forward? I want to love it, but the adventure-detective plot (complete with helpfully named "parlor scene") didn't grab me and there wasn't enough awe or big questions to make up for that like in other science fiction. The author is a for-real astrophysicist but he piled on so much inscrutable alien-tech that the magic outweighed the hard SF bits, so I also didn't finish it thinking, "I would like to know more about plasma physics," or anything. Basically, a great premise that didn't deliver to my expectations. But my judgement might be impaired because I have been in pain.
searsanne's review against another edition
Poor character development, poor explanation of the world