The Uplift War

Nice conclusion to the Uplift Trilogy and the best of the 1st three. Brin does a good job of allowing the reader to identify with his characters (both the chims and aliens). He doesn't explain who ever partially uplifted humanity itself -- even going so far as making you think that humans had no patrons at all -- which is fine, but I felt he was working up to this climactic revelation all through the 3 books and then just lets it fizzle out with no resolution. This was disappointing and irritating to me -- I docked the book a full star because of this (maybe it is dealt with more in the 2nd Uplift trilogy?).

The book moves along at a very satisfactory pace and I enjoyed the ending, even if it was a little bit predictable.

Another point throughout the trilogy that is mishandled by Brin is that the patrons and other "enlightened" and uplifted aliens show themselves to essentially be no further evolved than humans in countless respects, making the whole premise of the story flawed. In fact, a lot of the aliens are actually behind mankind in terms of emotional stability, patience, war tactics, etc.

I don't agree with the Hugo appreciation, but overall worth reading.