Evolution through natural (or sexual) selection is an observed phenomenon. Unfortunately, it can only take you so far - the pinnacle of pre-sapience, and no farther. In all the known space (of 5 galaxies) every space-faring race was discovered when they were only pre-sapient by a patron race who accepted them as a client race and uplifted them to star-faring sapience in a ritual that dated back to the Progenitors . Well, almost every space-faring race. Humanity is the exception, the wolfling race of beings who have apparently committed the vile sacrilege of uplifting themselves! And because of this they are sometimes admired, but mostly reviled by the other races. To further their crimes, they have actually uplifted two other races: chimps and dolphins, giving them the status of Patrons themselves! Usually, a new race must live in servitude for thousands or hundreds of thousands of years to their Patrons (to whom they are duty bound forever) before they are permitted to have clients. And many races are jealous of the presumptuousness of the wolflings.
The greatest achievement of these races is the building of the Galactic Library that contains the sum total of all knowledge known by all races in the known universe. Unfortunately, it's hard to find information in that library than it is to find useful information on the web. And to make matters worse, it's long been suspected that the aliens who gave us the library gave us an inferior copy, giving us a distinct disadvantage in our dealings with the other galactics. (Remember that reference to The Encyclopedia Galactica in Sagan's Cosmos series?)
That's the stage set by David Brin in his previous three books of the Uplift Saga : Sundiver , Startide Rising , and The Uplift Wars , and on which he now invites us to watch his fluid characters dance the acts of a new trilogy.
There are references to at least a dozen different ideas in this book, most meaningfully so far as I can discern. He writes of mathematics, language, astronomy, literature, religion and mythology, "primitive" technology, society - all coalesced into a book that asks some very important questions about the duty of humans to themselves, their race, and to all sapients.
I find the references to psychic powers mildly repugnant, but it's not entirely out of line with the story. Still, it would be nice to find a few authors who didn't have this in their stories.
Oddly enough religious fanaticism is a big issue in this book that I just happened to be reading when the Heaven's Gate mass suicide occurred. Must be an omen. (ahem) Oddly enough there are 'experts' in the media who are saying "Well, this was a cult and the only protection from these cults are the legitimate teachings of the Bible." I tell ya, Rodney Dangerfield couldn't write stuff this good.
Intelligent life tends to destroy worlds preventing other species from evolving. Since the uplift of other species is considered a sacred duty, some worlds that have outgrown there current potential for producing candidate species are left fallow. That is, the intelligent species leave the planet (to a 'man,' so to speak) and destroy all remnants of their technology. They then leave the world uninhabited for a million years or so to see if it looks like life is beginning to evolve. When pre-sapience are found, anyone can then become their patrons. But it is illegal (and also the most profoundly immoral act) to disturb a fallow world. Somehow, though, seven species find their way to a fallow world once inhabited by a race called the Buyer . One of those races gains redemption by going feral; however, the remaining six called the six are trying to follow that path, but are so far unsuccessful. One day a ship shows up and they wonder: is it another race taking refuge on their planet? is it ship from the other galactics come to punish them for their blasphemy? or something worse yet? One thing fer sure, David Brin will keep you on the edge of yer seat till ya find out.
A final note: I felt like I paid for and RECEIVED a BOOK with my money. It's a bout 650 pages, but it's NOT the end of a story. We'll have to wait till the sequels come out to found out how it ends. I'm a little annoyed by that, but it's not so much of a disappointment as the last Chalker series I read. Reminds me: Saw a reprint of Hogan's Gentle Giants series all in a single paperback volume the other day (and bought it, of course). That's value. Now, if these other guys can be persuaded to follow Hogan's example.
