A review by hawkeyegough
Sundiver by David Brin
5.0
I've read a couple of David Brin's novels and been impressed by his writing every time. Brin has a subtle way of weaving together many subplots and story arcs in a way that seems seamless and understated without ever leaving the reader absent of a sense of plot momentum.
Sundiver is the first in a series known as The Uplift Saga, of which I will definitely be reading more.
One of the Big Ideas behind this book is the concept of sentient species "uplifting" to consciousness other species they've come in contact with. This book is set more than a century in our future when humanity has uplifted several of our fellow earthbound species, including dolphins and chimpanzees. A complex plot is made very palatable by Brin's down-to-Earth style of writing that somehow never feels dumbed down to be digestible. A set of characters with believable motivations, strengths and flaws are pushed together to explore something new to the universe of beings humanity has found itself to be in after Contact with alien species. There are a lot of very interesting technologies (refrigeration lazer, as an example), philosophies and cultural mores put forward by Brin. This includes but isn't limited to the ideas that
This rich fabric is all brought together by a compelling set of whodunnits and twists which never seem to push aside the Big Ideas and in fact add to them in interesting ways. At several times, the focus of the plot pulled back and revealed even bigger scope than the reader anticipates. This is done in such a way that it feels like a curtain being pulled back to reveal some gem each time, and never fails to add to the intricacy and impact of the story Brin is telling. I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a good sci-fi yarn, especially folks who like a good mix of hard sci-fi with good character development. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Sundiver is the first in a series known as The Uplift Saga, of which I will definitely be reading more.
One of the Big Ideas behind this book is the concept of sentient species "uplifting" to consciousness other species they've come in contact with. This book is set more than a century in our future when humanity has uplifted several of our fellow earthbound species, including dolphins and chimpanzees. A complex plot is made very palatable by Brin's down-to-Earth style of writing that somehow never feels dumbed down to be digestible. A set of characters with believable motivations, strengths and flaws are pushed together to explore something new to the universe of beings humanity has found itself to be in after Contact with alien species. There are a lot of very interesting technologies (refrigeration lazer, as an example), philosophies and cultural mores put forward by Brin. This includes but isn't limited to the ideas that
Spoiler
humanity may have been uplifted by a mysterious progenitor race who has since disappeared, humans have developed a system to screen, identify and tag people who are prone to commit violence as "probationers," and that life forms may exist inside the sun.This rich fabric is all brought together by a compelling set of whodunnits and twists which never seem to push aside the Big Ideas and in fact add to them in interesting ways. At several times, the focus of the plot pulled back and revealed even bigger scope than the reader anticipates. This is done in such a way that it feels like a curtain being pulled back to reveal some gem each time, and never fails to add to the intricacy and impact of the story Brin is telling. I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a good sci-fi yarn, especially folks who like a good mix of hard sci-fi with good character development. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!