Rating: 
Summary: Where's the 'BIG PICTURE'?
Review: what i like about his previous books was the fleshing out of the universe, learning more about the other galactics etc. Here, the action is basically at the 'micro' level without reference to the big picture. He is a good storyteller but this is not up there with his best. Perhaps i will appreciate the book more after i finish reading the sequels...
Rating: 
Summary: A fantastic novel -- though perhaps not what you expected
Review: Brightness Reef is perhaps the best example of David Brin's descriptive genius at work. Unfortunately, for those longing for the much-awaited sequel to Startide Rising, your times has not quite arrived. As the cover explains, this is the story of Jijo, a forbidden planet inhabited by six sooner races, one of them human. Although I miss Tom Orley, Creidekki, and the rest of the Streaker crew, the new faces -- human and alien -- in this tale aptly repace them in the reader's heart. Of particular note is the Stranger, who will become of import later and keep you guessing as to his true identity. All in all this is a unique and thoroughly uexpected edition to the Uplift series. The writing is fantastic and the story unique and attention-grabbing. The ending will drive you crazy, but it will make you want to go out and grab a copy of its sequel now immediately without skipping a beat. If not quite fulfilling your Streaker-fix, it is an admirable addition in Brin's slowly-widening universe.
Rating: 
Summary: Good story, adequately told
Review: The choppiness of the scenes distracted from the overall scope of the story, rather than enhancing it as the author apparently intended. You go from past to present, which covers a short but undefined period of time - probably about 3 months, back and forth with no clue until you get well into the chapter where you are in the timeline. The characters are fairly well thought out, but not well explored. The concept is quite novel, for me anyway. A planet left fallow to develop its own pre-sentient species through evolution. Bands of refugees from seven races of different physiognomies each come to the planet to hide. After generations of warring amongst themselves, they finally form a common bond and society. Then come some pirates looking to steal some pre-pre-sentient species from the planet. The ersatz natives and the pirates now have to figure out how to keep each other from spilling the beans. Worth a read, but not a must-buy.
Rating: 
Summary: pleasant bland garbage
Review: Well, what to say. I finished the book with mild interest even though it looked to me like a first draft of something that would have been half as long in the rewrite. I read the other reviews in this list and am astonished that the other readers rate this book so highly. The idea of so many alien societies living together is interesting, but the ecology of their society is not fully enough described make it understandable or credible, and some parts of the book taken against others are plainly contradictory (where does food come from, how big is the slope, how many individuals live on it). What keeps the book going is subterfuge by the author in never ending any of the threads in the story in a direct manner, and dragging out what would otherwise be small events into long sections. The idea of having different aliens acting together is nice, but some of characters are used as thinly disguised devices for changing the point of view from personal experience to narration. The story reads as if it were a polemic on green conciousness without the conciousness to back it up.
Rating:
Summary: Almost as good as the second book in the second trilogy
Review: I loved the first trilogy, and so was delighted when I discoverd Infinitys Shore at the library, I immediatly read the first one, and while it was very slow at first it was well worth it, especially as the next book isn't slow at all, and well worth the setup in this book. As usual Brin has done an EXCELLENT job.
Rating: 
Summary: Brin rambling without a plot
Review: Startide Rising and Uplift War were excellent, permanent additions to my library. This one went in the trash. The characters are forgettable, and the story seems to be written by a 1st year hack writer, not the Brin I've gotten used to.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Brin's books have gone downhill and this is the latest example. Startide Rising was fascinating; Brightness Reef is almost boring. The ideas are great but the snail's pace makes it a struggle to finish. Did the publisher require a trilogy? Wait for the whole thing to see if it gets better before buying this one.
Rating:
Summary: A great adventure into alien minds!
Review: Brin has a talent for stepping into an alien's shoes (or wheels or hoofs...) and telling the reader how the alien thinks. This novel is a masterpiece for appreciating a variety of colorfully detailed alien races. Even though the alternate-points-of-view jumping around from character to character introduces a level of choppiness and slows down the plot, it's quite tolerable. Plot, in this novel, should be taken merely as a means to introduce the different thought patterns and living styles of the alien races described. Those who like the Uplift Universe will definitely enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: If at first you don't succeed...
Review: Keep trying to read this book until you get past the first 100 pages. Brin's works often have a tendency to be confusing and unfathomable --- but once you get into them they are impossible to put down. Unfortunately, Brightness Reef only raises questions and possibilities that might be answered in the next novel --- epic mysteries are raised (or roused, if you've read Startide Rising recently enough to figure out what's going on). It only starts to get exciting when it reaches the end of the novel, and by that time you have to get ahold of the sequel.
Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: I am a diehard Brin fan, but I couldn't get into this book.
It goes into detail which is not difficult to understand (ie, doesn't require extra intelligence) just tedious.
I buy books to be informed or entertained - this book does neither.
If you want an organic sleepng pill try this book.
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