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Sundiver (The Uplift Saga, Book 1)

Sundiver (The Uplift Saga, Book 1)

List Price: $7.99
Your Price: $7.19
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: They Get Better From Here
Review: The first book in the Uplift Saga is the weakest of the lot. It's a murder mystery with lots of aliens, essentially. Read it for completeness, but if it isn't your cup of tea, know that "Startide Rising" and "The Uplift War" are absolutely wonderful! (As are the next three books in the saga....)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: INTRODUCTION TO UPLIFT
Review: I have read the first three books of the UPLIFT Series so far. This book made me to read the other two. I was hoping to continue with the same characters but what i met was nearly totally different and much more better than the first book in the next two books of the series. YET, to understand the next books you need to read this. It is like "Introduction to UPLIFT THEORY" or "Elemantary UPLIFT THEORY". It is a prerequisite for the others.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Fine storytelling, but a bit cliche
Review: This story has it all: sex, violence, mystery...
but it is still written fairly well.

It feels less like a "first book to a series" as it does a stand-alone introduction to something which, when it was written, may take off or may die there (Gateway by Fredrik Pol comes to mind...). Either way, it did set the groundwork for what developed into a larger series.

Not the greatest of books, it appears that much can be expected of the rest of the Uplift series, as many loose ends have been left at the end of the mystery tour.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: a worthy opening chapter
Review: David Brin writes science fiction the way it should be written--with imagination, heroic characters, and the triumph of all that is good in the human spirit. "Sundiver" is a prime example of how good Brin's books can be.

Many cite "Startide Rising" as Brin's masterpiece. While "Startide" is a great book (Earth is actually my favorite book written by Brin), I do not think that Sundiver is a "weaker" effort. The two books are apples and oranges. One, "Sundiver," is essentially a mystery. The other, "Startide Rising," is more of an action-adventure book. I recommend them both. "Sundiver" really sets the context for "Startide" nicely.

"Sundiver" is a great mystery that kept me guessing until the end. It is filled with the kind of invention and personal treachery/heroics that make the Uplift series great. Brin has made a visionary world in his two great series.

I recommend this book.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A pleasant sci-fi story and a good start to a trilogy.
Review: These days, science-fiction is being filled with cliches and reused plots. Luckily, however, it's good to know that there are authors who can come up with original and brilliant ideas. David Brin has done just that with "Sundiver", the first book in both the "Uplift" series and first "Uplift" trilogy.

The "Uplift" novels are centered around the idea of "uplifting," which is one of the most original ideas I've come across in science-fiction. I won't go into detail about uplifting, but I will say it sets the stage for some interesting ideas that can be(and, for the most part, were) used in the novel.

However, this is probably where the only gripe I had with the book comes into play. Instead of concentrating on the idea of uplifting, "Sundiver" focuses more on a mystery being played out and how the various aliens in the story are involved. Uplifting takes a backseat in the story and is usually used as reasoning behind why events occur.

But that really doesn't matter, because I feel that "Sundiver" is a book used to introduce the reader to the "Uplift" universe and set the stage for the next few novels to follow. If "Sundiver" had been a lone book, it would've been a major disappointment. Luckily, that's not the case.

The story itself in "Sundiver" is beautifully played out and very well-constructed, although it does tend to move a little fast at times, particularly in the beginning. The aliens in Brin's world are alone worth getting the book, because Brin, who knows his stuff, makes them interesting yet believable at the same time. Of course, it's not the best story in the world, but it's definately worth any science-fiction fan's time to look into it.

All in all, "Sundiver" acts as a good starting point to the rest of the "Uplift" series, which will most likely play upon the idea of uplifting a great deal more. Combined with a pretty good story and a terrific, original environment, "Sundiver" demands to be given a chance.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: CLASSIC SCI-FI
Review: This is the type of Sci-Fi we all desire. New techonolgy, new races, new ideas. Prefectly written, it draws you, I was unable to put it down. Brin has moved to my top 10 list of Writes.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good book, but perhaps a little out of place
Review: Firstly, this is a good book, and definitely worth the read. Its style reminded me of Asimov's Robot Trilogy, especially "Caves of Steel". This is mainly because of the mystery-type plot and development of the story. Brin's protagonist, Jacob Demwa, is reminiscent of a new age Lije Baley.

Compared to the other books in the series, this one seems out of place (The others do not have the mystery aspect, and examine the alien races much more thoroughly). It is a very good starting point, and helps provide the setting for the future stories. I'd say read it first, but like it or not go on and read "Startide Rising".

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: I was really bored... as much as I tried not to be
Review: I started reading this book with a lot of expectations. I got the impression it's going to be one of the best books I'm ever going to read. (Did it win a Hugo? I'm not sure, but it might have had). The world David Brin created was fascinating, but the story was just SO BORING... I kept waiting for something exciting to happen - but nothing! I managed to finish the book, only to decide I'm never going to read the sequals. Although many reviewers said that this is the weakest book in the series, so maybe I should give him a second chance. His short stories book was superb, in my opinion. Anyway, to summarize - so-so, in my opinion. If you heard good things about the next books - I guess this should be worth reading. but if you have a list of good books, and you're just trying to decide which one to read? Wait with this one

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Worthwhile but mildly disappointing.
Review: A solid, original and interesting work of science fiction, Sundiver has the important elements of good science fiction: a convincing future, a story filled with wonder, and thoughtful ideas about man's ultimate role in the universe. But frankly, I was a little disappointed. The writing level is low and the characterizations and dialogue are weak. There is a lot of great material to work with and I still haven't given up on the next one, Startide Rising. Worthwhile reading for science fiction fans.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A vivid imagination has Mr. Brin
Review: This is the second book by David Brin that I've read. The first, which got me loving his writing, was The Postman. Sundiver is the first book written in the world of Uplift and the Five Galaxies. Brin's vivid imagination creates numerous alien races and ideas that keep the reader involved in the book. The twists and turns keep the reader waiting on the edge of their seat to see what comes next. A very enjoyable read.


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