Brightness Reef

The Uplift Trilogy, Book 1

By: David Brin

Narrated by: George Wilson

Length: 25 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

David Brin, the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of Sundiver, crafts Brightness Reef, a luminous gem of science-fiction literature.

Persecuted refugees from six separate alien races have migrated to the idyllic planet Jijo. And despite their incredible diversity, the inhabitants live together in blissful harmony. However, settlement on Jijo is illegal - and it's only a matter of time before the residents of this forbidden paradise are discovered by the galactic powers-that-be.

©1995 David Brin (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Immensely appealing, leaving readers hungry for more." ( Publishers Weekly)

great story, slow reveal of larger purpose

great story, set in a backwoods planet.. felt incredibly slow on its overall purpose and place in brins larger universe till nearly the end

Not the best

Any additional comments?

**** SPOILERS ****

OK. Maybe I just don't get "adult" sci-fi. But this book kinds just drug on with no read direction. There were so many mini stories in the book that I had a hard time keeping up with all of them.

There is so lottle to go off of for the first few chapters that I had no clue that we were talking about so many different races and trying to keep up with which race was which was a pain.

Then to get to the end and find out that we were not going to get ANY resolution was a massive letdown. No resolution on anything. What is going on under water? Who is this mystery man and what's up with his head? Who are the visitors and then the newer visitors?

The story got more interesting about half way through the book, but I doubt the series is worth getting the next two just to find some form of closure.

Great Narration

The narrator of this book is excellent. He manages to make several alien species each sound distinctly alien, while also conveying their personality and emotion.

diverse, intelligent species living in peace.

Maybe the rest of the trilogy will justify the time spent wading through the slow start of many storylines. Interesting exploration of diverse, intelligent species living in organized peace.

Wish a different company made the recording

I enjoy the story, having read it several times. It deserves a much better reader.

Made Real

¨The characterization voicings are truly remarkable, bringing each character to life and then fleshing them out. I would recommend this book to anyone.

This is genuine Literature that will require effort from the reader!

I first read David Brin’s books in the 80’s. I loved them then and even copied a quote from Startide Rising to hang in my office. He has built a deep and complicated universe with many conflicting ideals. He uses this chaotic environment to debate the ancient riddles that mankind has struggled with for as long as we can remember: Purpose, Predestination, Free will, Racism, Bigotry, Slavery, Honor, the list goes on…

As many reviewers have noted, this is a confusing book. My only complaint, about audio books in general, is that I can’t flip back a few pages to identify specific characters or storylines. A Family Tree of the MANY characters in this book would be incredibly useful. This doesn’t make it ‘bad writing’ but rather this expansive setting allows the author to present many different perspectives on each situation encountered. This is not black & white storytelling, it is much more convoluted and complex. Many, if not most, of the characters truly believe themselves to be on the side of righteousness and they are granted time to explain their positions. It is often left to the reader to decide which, if any, is the better choice.

Basic knowledge of the Uplift universe is clearly expected and will be tremendously helpful. This is not a standalone book! It is book 1 of a trilogy, which itself is a sequel to Startide Rising. This volume does not have a satisfactory ending because the end of this book is nowhere near the end of the story.

If I haven’t scared you away you will absolutely love this book! Mr Brin is an amazing author and I highly recommend the entire Uplift saga. These are some of the most alien aliens I have ever read. While some traits are universal (greed, vanity, etc.) each species has unique characteristics, motivations and internal politics.
Good characters, vivid prose and complex, intertwining story lines. It’s hard to ask for more from an author. Thank you Mr Brin!

Cool story it has aliien kids

This is another good story like the last one but I like it much better and it sorta introduces who will be in the next 2 books.

The beginning is a little strange and you will understand it in alter books, but it was strange at the time because you don't know who he is or where he came from but find out later that you should know who he is and I am still unclear is I should have known or if it was something to be figured out later.

There are some alien kids that are going to do things that kids do and they are on there planet of birth but all are different races, there ancestors were illegally settling on the planet Jijo which was declared fallow, i.e. to be left uncolonized so that the ecosystem will recover and native intelligences may have a chance to develop - The eight races are: g'Keks, Traeki (similar to Jophur), Glavers, Qheuen, Hoon, Tytlal (AKA noor beast), Urs, and Human. By the beginning of the novel, the Glavers have (partly) regressed to pre-sentient animals and the Tytlal have successfully disguised themselves as wildlife.

this has parts in it that are like excerpts from the journal of Alvin and his adventures with his friends, problem I have is I have trouble figuring out who is who and what race they are, its described and the voices are different enough I can tell its just I don't see them as aliens, or better yet I don't see them as different aliens I think of them all as the same race.

not sure if this is a good thing or not, probably not intended to be that way but for the most part it works for me, there are some things I don't like but for the most part I liked this book.

They go on an adventure and find something from the days of old and hope it can help them but without giving anything away it doesn't do much for them other than make them wanted by everyone.

This book and the story in it are a little more connected in the later 2 books than the other ones before it which are like prequels to these 3, if you had not read the first 3 you could just get the story by skimming the wiki on the book and these ones would follow nicely - I would however suggest you do read the first ones they aren't great but they are a good adventure to go on - the first book is a little strange and is more of a pre-prequel of sorts.

Awesome addition to the Uplift series

If you have listened to any of the uplift series and liked it, this is no different on that regards. The story is massive and enthralling and the reader makes it even more entertaining with the different voices and intonations and speech patterns of the various characters and aliens. Buy it!

not my favorite

Too many PoV characters. Seemingly too little relationship to the bigger story in the Uplift Universe. One big question I had throughout the novel is who the stranger is. Sorry I asked. Sure it is part one of three, but it has no semblance of an ending. Just stops.