Heaven's Reach (The Second Uplift Trilogy #3) - Softcover

David Brin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0553574736 ISBN 13: 9780553574739

Publisher: Spectra, 1999

Synopsis

Winner of the Nebula and Hugo Awards, David Brin brings his bestselling Uplift series to a magnificent conclusion with his most imaginative and powerful novel to date--the shattering epic of a universe poised on the brink of revelation...or annihilation.

The brutal enemy that has relentlessly pursued them for centuries has arrived. Now the fugitive settlers of Jijo--both human and alien--brace for a final confrontation. The Jijoans' only hope is the Earthship Streaker, crewed by uplifted dolphins and commanded by an untested human.

Yet more than just the fate of Jijo hangs in the balance. For Streaker carries a cargo of ancient artifacts that may unlock the secret of those who first brought intelligent life to the Galaxies. Many believe a dire prophecy has come to pass: an age of terrifying changes that could end Galactic civilization.

As dozens of white dwarf stars stand ready to explode, the survival of sentient life in the universe rests on the most improbable dream of all--that age-old antagonists of different races can at last recognize the unity of all consciousness.

About this title

Review:

Heaven's Reach is the final volume of the Uplift trilogy, which begins in Brightness Reef and continues in Infinity's Shore. It chronicles the adventures of a handful of primitives from the planet Jijo who have left or been taken from their homes only to be swept into the intrigues of galactic politics. The novel also continues the story of the fugitive Earth starship Streaker, pursued across the galaxy for its precious cargo of ancient artifacts. Just when it looks like things can't get worse for Streaker, the foretold Time of Changes rocks the galaxy. Devastating "space quakes" shake every planet and star, and some of the particularly unscrupulous alien races attempt to use the disaster to further their bizarre goals. There's danger and excitement on almost every page (in contrast to much of the first two books in the series) and Brin finally delivers on many of the mysteries of the Five Galaxies. The Progenitors, the Hydrogen Breathers, Streaker's cargo--these and more are explained at last. Or are they? Each seemingly ultimate truth tends to dissolve a chapter later, revealing a new and more complex truth. New adventures and mysteries await. --Brooks Peck

From the Publisher:

A San Francisco Chronicle bestseller!

Praise for David Brin's New Uplift Trilogy:

Brightness Reef:

"A captivating read...Brightness Reef leaves you looking forward to more. It's a worthy addition to what promises to be a great science-fiction series."
--Star Tribune, Minneapolis

"Brin is a skillful storyteller....there is more than enough action to keep the book exciting, and like all good serials, the first volume ends with a bang."
--The Plain Dealer, Cleveland

"Don't miss this one, folks. Or the next."
--Analog

Infinity's Shore:

"Well paced, immensely complex, highly literate...on full display here is Brin's extraordinary capacity to handle a wide-ranging narrative and to create convincingly complex alien races.... Superior SF."
--Publishers Weekly

"Here, again, David Brin displays the considerable expertise in universe-building which has garnered him numerous awards. And, again, he proves himself to be a very gifted storyteller."
--Mysterious Galaxy

About this edition

• Publisher: Spectra
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0553574736
• ISBN 13: 9780553574739
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 576
• Illustrator: Jim Burns