Across known space, Humanity is a rare example of a species that achieved sentience and a starfaring civilization without the evident help of a Patron race. In the eyes of some aliens, this makes them unique; in others, it makes them outcasts. Humans have earned themselves a tenuous status in Galactic society, however, as they had already Uplifted two other races - chimpanzees and dolphins - by the time of First Contact.
With the gift of alien technology, Humans are exploring the environs of Sol itself. Drawn into the Sundiver project by an alien friend, the scientist Jacob Demwa soon finds that the sun may harbor the secret behind Humanity’s apparent lack of Patronage. But strange behavior from everyone involved - Earth natives and aliens both - puts the entire project at risk, and Jacob has the opportunity to sort things out - if he can get his own fractured mind to cooperate with him.
Sundiver is a lovely mixture of the hard sci-fi and mystery genres. The writing is solid, if rarely evocative, and the primary character is lovingly fleshed out. Secondary characters lack depth but work fine as they are.
The creative exercise of the setting - chains of Patron and Client races, each with their own (sometimes hidden) agendas, flowing around the ‘orphaned’ Human race, the latter still struggling with social issues on a grand scale, opens up lots of possibility for future works. The mystery element will keep even the sharpest of readers guessing. Combined with hard sci-fi, this book was a very enjoyable, relatively quick read. Fortunately, Brin has seen fit to grant us several more titles set in this universe.
