Sundiver : Volume 1 of the Uplift Saga
Author: David Brin --
Published: Nov 1996 --
Format: Paperback
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DESCRIPTION:
No species has ever reached for the stars without the guidance of a patron—except
perhaps mankind. Did some mysterious race begin the uplift of humanity aeons ago? Circling
the sun, under the caverns of Mercury, Expedition Sundiver prepares for the most momentous
voyage in history—a journey into the boiling inferno of the sun.
FREDRIK'S REVIEW:
This is the first in a series of six books about the crazy intergalacic culture that we
might find once our species takes the giant leap to travel to other stars. In David Brin's
universe, all speices become intelligent and space-faring (which is actually the same
according to some species) by being helped by another, older species. This process is
called "uplift" and has been going on since the age of the Progenitors (the ancient species
that created the galactic civilization). When Earth is discovered by the galacitcs, humanity
will find itself in over it's head in galactic politics and at war with species powerful
enough to destroy earth with a single ship. The first book is not the best in the series,
but it helps to read them all. If you are inpatient you can start from the fourth book as
books 4, 5 and 6 make up a separate trilogy.
OTHER EDITIONS:
This book is available in a hardcover edition
as well.
RELATED PRODUCTS:
To complete this series, get the rest of the novels: Startide
Rising (#2), Uplift War (#3),
Brightness Reef (#4), Infinity's Shore (#5), Heaven's
Reach (#6).
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A Fall of Moondust
Author: Arthur C. Clarke --
Published: 1961 --
Format: Paperback
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DESCRIPTION:
Time is running out for the passengers and crew of the tourist-cruiser Selene, incarcerated
in a sea of choking lunar dust. On the surface, her rescuers find their resources stretched
to the limit by the pitiless and unpredictable conditions of a totally alien environment.
FREDRIK'S REVIEW:
This is a book about a rescue operation on the moon. This book deals more with human
relations than the future. The same thing could happen today if a bus got hit by an
avalanche or something.
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Job - A Comedy of Justice
Author: Robert A. Heinlein --
Published: May 1990 --
Format: Paperback
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DESCRIPTION:
After he firewalked in Polynesia, the world wasn't the same for Alexander Hergensheimer,
now called Alec Graham. As natural accidents occurred without cease, Alex knew Armageddon
and the Day of Judgement were near. Somehow he had to bring his beloved heathen, Margrethe,
to a state of grace, and, while he was at it, save the rest of the world ....
FREDRIK'S REVIEW:
Here's another book that deals with the end of the world. If you ever thought religion is
pretty silly, you should read this book to find out just how silly it is. It is a very funny
book with some very thought worthy ideas about religion.
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The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Author: Robert A. Heinlein --
Published: July 1997 --
Format: Paperback
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DESCRIPTION:
The Hugo Award-winning classic that helped launch modern libertarianism, The Moon Is a
Harsh Mistress is Heinlein's unforgettable tale of a Lunar revolution in 2076. Led by
a one-armed computer technician, a radical blonde bombshell, an aging academic, and a
sentient, all-knowing computer, the revolution's proclamation—"TANSTAAFL" (There Ain't
No Such Thing As A Free Lunch)—remains a slogan of the libertarian movement today.
FREDRIK'S REVIEW:
The story takes place in the year 2075 where the moon is a former penal colony whose
inhabitants want to break free. Having lived on the moon for a number of years, they have
become a working society and are prisoners no longer. It is an excellent saga of how three
people and a sentient computer carry out a revolution to "Free Luna".
MONICA'S REVIEW:
I was really reluctant to start reading this book but Fredrik keep encouraging me to try it.
Usually, SciFi books don't interest me but well, I love him so I read it. It was really fun
and interesting read! Not at all dull and boring like I thought it would be. Turns out,
I got another book for Christmas which I liked even better. Read my review on
Stranger in a Strange Land.
OTHER EDITIONS:
This book is available in a hardcover edition
as well.
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The Mote in God's Eye
Author: Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle --
Published: Feb 1987 --
Format: Paperback
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DESCRIPTION:
Writing separately, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle are responsible for a number of science
fiction classics, such as the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Ringworld, Debt of Honor, and
The Integral Trees. Together they have written the critically acclaimed bestsellers Inferno,
Footfall, and The Legacy of Heorot, among others.
The Mote In God's Eye is their acknowledged masterpiece, an epic novel of mankind's
first encounter with alien life that transcends the genre.
FREDRIK'S REVIEW:
You have to love the moties, they have three arms and are much more intelligent than humans.
I just hope they make a movie out of this book one day.
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Good Omens
Author: Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman --
Published: May 1996 --
Format: Paperback
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DESCRIPTION:
According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter—the world's only totally
reliable guide to the future—the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact.
Just after tea...
FREDRIK'S REVIEW:
This is one of the funniest books I have ever read. With Terry Pratchett's excellent sense
of humor and Neil Gaiman's sense of style, nothing can go wrong ...  This book is a
modern fantasy tale of witches, urbanized demons and the end of the world.
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City
Author: Clifford D. Simak --
Published: 1952 --
Format: Paperback
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DESCRIPTION:
The year was 1990 ... Everywhere men were fleeing the cities, abandoning the ancient huddling
places of the human race. Cheap atomic power was a reality. Hydroponics had replaced dirt
farming. At last humanity was free. And left behind—in the dead and empty
cities—man's memories remained as symbols of the childhood of the race. The Golden Age
had come at last after generations of turmoil ...
City is a fasinating science fiction novel that deals with many men, the human beings
who will be your decendants. In it, Clifford D. Simak has skillfully combined prophetic fact
with thrilling fiction for an exciting look at the future.
FREDRIK'S REVIEW:
This is an excellent book for hard-core SF fans. It describes a very, very interesting
scenario of the future. The book describes a discussion from the distant future regarding
their legends about the past. It is also a very good read for dog lovers.
MONICA'S REVIEW:
Even though I don't tend to go for hard core SciFi (and old stuff to boot) again, my husband
convinced me to give this a try. This book was written 50 years ago and attempted to look
into the future (which has already passed by now) and Simak's lofty aspirations are still
found in current SciFi literature today. It is an excellent piece of SciFi history! Read
more of Monica's reviews.
OTHER EDITIONS:
This book is available in a hardcover edition,
another paperback and
yet another paperback as well.
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Snow Crash
Author: Neal Stephenson --
Published: May 2000 --
Format: Paperback
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DESCRIPTION:
Only once in a great while does a writer come along who defies comparison—a writer so
original he redefines the way we look at the world. Neal Stephenson is such a writer and
Snow Crash is such a novel, weaving virtual reality, Sumerian myth, and just about
everything in between with a cool, hip cybersensibility to bring us the gigathriller of the
information age.
In reality, Hiro Protagonist delivers pizza for Uncle Enzo's CosaNostra Pizza Inc., but in
the Metaverse he's a warrior prince. Plunging headlong into the enigma of a new computer
virus that's striking down hackers everywhere, he races along the neon-lit streets on a
search-and-destroy mission for the shadowy virtual villain threatening to bring about
Infocalypse. Snow Crash is a mind-altering romp through a future America so bizarre, so
outrageous...you'll recognize it immediately.
FREDRIK'S REVIEW:
This book re-defines cyberpunk in my opinion. It offers the reader a view into a future
where government is failing and corporations rule the world. It's a dangerous place where
cyberspace is a reality and the mafia delivers your pizza. It also has one of my favourite
quotes: "swords don't run out of bullets".
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Macrolife
Author: George Zebrowski --
Published: Jan 1979 --
Format: Hardcover
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DESCRIPTION:
None at this time ...
FREDRIK'S REVIEW:
This book paints a gigantic picture of the future from now until the end of the universe.
In my opinion, this is a very probabable course of human development, although it might
happen faster than the author ever imagined.
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