The Uplift War
category: science fiction, author:David Brin
book 3 of Upliftoriginal copyright 1987,
read in July 2011 (and before, several years ago)
Agamedes' opinion: 9 out of 10
We were heading off on holiday. I needed a book to read... (Never be caught with an hour to spare and no book to read!) Picked up The Uplift War...What a great book! Just as much fun as the first time I read it. And that was long enough ago that the book was still able to surprise me. (Mind you, even when I immediately re-read a book -- I am surprised by how much I missed the first time!)
Unfortunately... I then read another book on that holiday. Came home to re-start yet another... And failed to review Uplift.
So memory has faded.
There was action and adventure. Suspense and humour. Excellent Earthlings -- of several species -- and believable aliens. All tied into a universe so exciting -- so full of possibility -- that you just wish it were true...
Though there is one... over-riding... problem: If you believe that eugenics is, of itself, "evil" then the Uplift novels are all based on an evil premise.
The Uplift War is eugenics in action. The Earthlings learn a valuable lesson, that those who are to be removed from the gene pool must still be treated with dignity and respect. I remember another lesson on eugenics, from Edgar Rice Burroughs:
As a rather weak start to this remembrance... I don't remember the source novel. Possibly set on Venus, less likely to be John Carter on Mars, definitely not Tarzan...
The heroes discover a city inhabited by incredibly handsome men and incredibly beautiful women. How is it that all of the city's inhabitants are so good looking? so intelligent? so athletic...? There is a test: pass it and stay in town, fail and you are killed. (Our heroes, of course, easily pass.)
This is eugenics in action. Almost everyone is satisfied with the system... or dead and not complaining.
How did this start? This is where perceptions play a major role:
The system was begun by (let's call him) King Fred the Great. The system began with a major culling -- killing -- of most of the city's inhabitants. The result was a city of intelligent, good-looking, athletic people, with a gradually reducing need to cull the unsatisfactory.
No wonder he is referred to as, King Fred the Great!
Although, at the time... he was referred to as King Fred the Psycho Killer. But only quietly. Unless you were safely good-looking, intelligent and athletic.
So do the ends justify the means?
Perhaps... eventually... amongst the descendants of the survivors.
The Uplift universe is eugenics in action. With care, consideration and kindness for those who do not meet the criteria for breeding.
Is this acceptable?
Help yourself to any opinion that suits your own ideals.
Forget about the eugenics-based universe... and the book is great fun.
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2 comments:
I have just re-read The Uplift War. And it is just as good as before ! This time, "eugenics" did not even cross my mind. Though I was glad when, at the end, the treatment of "Probationers" was to be reconsidered.
This time I read the book as being hard science fiction... a lot of fun... good characters... humanity and all its partners up against the universe... and winning ! Interesting, though, that this time I actually understood what happened at the end with the gorillas. A nice touch of Tymbrimi irony :-)
So. This is still a very enjoyable book. And I will probably read it again. Several years down the track.
February 2018:
Yes, I have just re-re-read this book... and it is still very enjoyable :-) Interesting, though: this time I see *ecology* as the main theme. The message is pushed hard, that we should protect rather than exploit the natural environment.
This is a book which presents and sometimes explores a number of issues. All within an exciting, enjoyable and action-packed science fiction story.
Well worth reading yet again!
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