The Uplift WarThe Uplift War
Score Classic
What it's about
In David Brin's Uplift universe, no species reaches intelligence without being uplifted by a patron race. On the planet Garth, humans and their uplifted chimpanzee clients face an invasion by an alien empire, in a war tied to the galaxy's greatest mystery: who uplifted humankind?
Why it's worth reading
It won the Hugo Award and was a Nebula finalist. It's one of the classic space operas of the 1980s.
You'll love it if you liked
Startide Rising
Hyperion
Ender's GameGood to know
It's the third Uplift novel but stands on its own.
By the numbers
- Readers58 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller16 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #80 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #267 of the 762 classics we rank
- #863 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic, Dark
More by David Brin
Startide Rising
The Postman
Earth
Brightness ReefIf you like this, read next
Seventh Son
Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang
Scythe
Tress of the Emerald Sea
Skyward
Thief of TimeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Uplift War worth reading?
Yes. It won the Hugo Award and was a Nebula finalist. It ranks #863 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Uplift War about?
In David Brin's Uplift universe, no species reaches intelligence without being uplifted by a patron race. On the planet Garth, humans and their uplifted chimpanzee clients face an invasion by an alien empire, in a war tied to the galaxy's greatest mystery: who uplifted humankind?
How long does it take to read The Uplift War?
About 16 hours (638 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Uplift War won?
Hugo Award winner (1988).
What should I read after The Uplift War?
If you liked it, try Startide Rising by David Brin, Hyperion by Dan Simmons or Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.