The Uplift War (The Uplift Saga, Book 3)

Brin writes with power and delicacy. Never before have I come across an author who so truly imagines what it would be like for an animal to think intelligently. It reminds me of when I used to play Animal Days as a child, pretending to be various animals and genetic combinations. But here it is written out in story form. Beyond this Brin has imagined an entirely new type of galactic civilization, divorced from all previous science fiction. Brin is a genius in his accurate understanding of how things might be, and how things could be beyond the reach of most mortal minds. Sometimes science fiction authors will so pursue the science they forget the characters. That's not Brin. The characters are central- but they are intimately part of the science fiction. An intelligent chimpanzee would struggle with it's place in human society while accepting as normal a polygynous relationship. A being that could slightly change it's shape would think about reality in a different way. Brin is true to science and to his characters. This is a book of surprises, and the reader will not be able to predict the directions that are taken- repeatedly. The author engages us and paints a new reality that we can briefly immerse ourself in. He has truly created a world of difficulty, but with bright hope for tomorrow.

Where to begin! This is David Brin's masterwork, the summation of his creative potential and a novel which goes beyond storytelling and challenges readers to think and act in new ways. Fiben Bolger is a chimpanzee with a problem. The Gubru, a massivley powerful and advanced alien race, just invaded his homeworld Garth, shot down his ship, and are trying to gas his best friend Robert Oneagle into submission. This plucky ape is one of the central characters of Uplift, and his perspective leads to many amusing insights as he struggles for his planet's freedom. Brin likes to create groups of characters who interact. This means that Uplift War, like Brin's other novels, may have more characters than the average book. In other Brin works- particularly the second Uplift trilogy- this is a problem, but not in Uplift War. Whether by chance or skill, the characters in Uplift War all aide in the telling of the story. Another thing that makes Uplift War special is the concept of propriety. The Gubru are far more powerful than their human/ape enemies, and could lay waste to everything in their path. However, their hand is stayed when fighting human resistance because, while they are the bad guys, they are not without honor. Indeed, the three competing Gubru suzerians (leaders) each vie for power by arguing that their plan would best enhance their clan's honor. This reminds me just a bit of the branches of the US federal government. And just like our government, when one branch gets too powerful, bad things can start to happen. Read other reviews or the book itself to learn about the many fascinating subplots that lace the book and support the main story, which has many fun surprises and revelations. One of the best things about the book is the very clear picture we are given of the whole Uplift Universe, the Five Galaxies. If anyone else can better squish a description of five galaxies into a single book that takes place on one planet, I'd like to see it. (Brin himself tried three more times and failed!) I cannot help but think that Fiben's, Robert's and the rest of Earthclan's guerrilla war are an antidote, in literary form, for Vietnam. It is refreshing and heartening to read of a valiant band of your people fighting bravely and creatively against a much stronger enemy. (Even if it is just fiction!) The Uplift War is a deeply human story. I read it once a year and it always picks me up. I reccomend it to anyone with an interest in science fiction in general and, particularly, speculative biology, physics and politics. It is an excellent stand-alone, and while Sundiver and Startide Rising are both quite good, neither are neccasary or even important for your enjoyment of Uplift War.

Brin's The Uplift War is definitely the best of the Uplift Series to this point. Of the first three books in the series, The Uplift War does best what a good book should do...suck the reader in, hold on and not let go until the end.The Uplift War focuses around the Terran colony world of Garth. Due to events that take place in the previous book -- Startide Rising -- Garth is besieged by the Gubru, a fanatical, bird-like race. Most of the humans on Garth are placed in isolation camps after the Gubru overrun the colony. It's up to the few who escape internment (including several friendly aliens), along with a lot of chimpanzees, to try and repel the invasion.I'd like to get it out here at the beginning that this book does occassionally have its slow parts...but then, what book doesn't? That being said, the book certainly has lots of action and enough twists and turns to easily keep the reader interested. The book also gives us our first look at the Tymbrimi...one of the few Galactic species friendly to those claiming an Earthly heritage. I also thought the Tymbrimi corona was a great idea. The corona is a kind of psychic antenna that not only allows the Tymbrimi to sense others' feelings, but also allows the Tymbrimi to craft emotion "glyphs" -- a kind of psychic artform that can influence others in a multitude of ways.All but one of the main characters in this book is a non-human. Brin did a great job of not only telling his tale from the perspective of Tymbrimi and chimpanzees, but also did an excellent job in really defining the similarities and differences of Tymbrimi and chimpanzees with regards to humans. I've seen other reviewers proclaim that Brin is truly an expert at creating and then elaborating on aliens he has constructed with his pen...I enthusiastically add my voice to this chorus.Overall, this book is far-and-away the best of the first three Uplift books. The first three books in the Uplift Series happen to be the first three books I've read of Brin's. I'd say that with The Uplift War he's finally living up to his stellar reputation for great scifi.

Though this is actually the third novel in the first uplift trilogy it stands neatly on it's own. It may be wiser to start with Startide Rising, though. Anyway, in this book an alien bird-like race (Gubru) lays siege to a human colony world(Garth). With a Galaxy-wide war set around humans this lonely and poor colony must face it's would-be conquerors alone. It's one battle in the whole war whose causes are better described in Startide (though they are also explained here). Brin does an exceptional work in describing the chimpanzee culture who must strive to help their human patrons in saving Garth. All characters are wonderfully explored and complex, even the aliens! For those of you who are looking for the characters presented in Startide Rising, tough luck! This isn't it! For that read Brightness Reef(the first book of the second trilogy). We also get a close look at Earth's Tymbrimi allies and Thenanin enemies. Though you could skip this book in the overall streaker series I found it extremely entertaining and absolutely engrossing. Besides the ultimate conclusion of this book shall play an essential role in the outcome of the greater war. Very entertaining and highly recommended. Brin's very best!

This book is even better than Uplift war. The way Brin writes about the characters. You would think he's telling about his firsthand account of actual events. Especially his way of using animal and alien characters. Brightness reef is on it's way to my home soon. High anticipation, oh yeah.