David Brin

Born:	October 6, 1950 Glendale, California
Occupation:	Novelist, physics professor, NASA consultant
Genres:	Science fiction
Debut works:	Sundiver

Glen David Brin, Ph.D. (October 6, 1950) is a well-known American author of science fiction. He is the winner of both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. He lives in southern California. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1315x1710, 195 KB)Modified version of Image:Brin-7. ... October 6 is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years). ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location of Glendale within Los Angeles County and the State of California. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... For the album by the Kaiser Chiefs see Employment (album) Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. ... The first few hydrogen atom electron orbitals shown as cross-sections with color-coded probability density Physics (Greek: (phúsis), nature and (phusiké), knowledge of nature) is the branch of science concerned with the discovery and characterization of universal laws which govern matter, energy, space, and time. ... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an agency of the United States federal government, responsible for the nations public space program. ... A literary genre is one of the divisions of literature into genres according to particular criteria such as literary technique, tone, or content. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Sundiver is the first book of David Brins first uplift trilogy. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... The 2005 Hugo Award with base designed by Deb Kosiba. ... The Nebula is an award given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the two previous years (see rolling eligibility below). ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

Biographical timeline

• 1950 - born in Glendale, California
• 1973 - received Bachelor of Science in astronomy from California Institute of Technology
• 1978 - received Master of Science in applied physics from University of California, San Diego
• 1981 - received Doctor of Philosophy in space science from University of California, San Diego

Nickname: Location of Glendale within Los Angeles County and the State of California. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A giant Hubble mosaic of the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant Astronomy (also frequently referred to as astrophysics) is the scientific study of celestial objects (such as stars, planets, comets, and galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside the Earths atmosphere (such as the cosmic background radiation). ... The California Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Caltech)[1] is a private, coeducational university located in Pasadena, California, in the United States. ... A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate course of one or two years in duration. ... Cutout of the ITER project Applied physics is physics that is intended for a particular technological or practical use, as for example in engineering, as opposed to basic research. ... The University of California, San Diego (popularly known as UCSD, or sometimes UC San Diego) is a public, coeducational research university located in La Jolla, a seaside resort community of San Diego, California. ... Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated Ph. ...

Work

Fiction

Science Fiction authors are sometimes best-known for groups of stories or novels set in a common "universe" or projected future history. Although they make up a minority of David Brin's works, his Uplift stories have won a large following in the SF community, twice winning the international Science Fiction Achievement Award (Hugo Award) in the Best Novel category. This future history depicts a huge galactic civilization responsible for "uplifting" all forms of life which are potentially capable of building and operating interstellar spaceships for themselves. The stories focus almost exclusively on oxygen breathing species but make it clear that there are other "orders of life", of which hydrogen-breathers are the most important. In the "Uplift" novels humans are economically and technologically the weakest spacefaring race, and are an anomaly since they have no "patron" species responsible for their uplift from animal pre-sapience. As a result several races are eager to force humans to become their clients, but galactic law saves humans from this fate because they are patrons themselves, having already made considerable progress in uplifting dolphins and chimpanzees before developing faster-than-light space travel and thus attracting the attention of galactic civilization. Some of the more aggressive races regard as heresy the humans' claim to have evolved naturally to their current level of intelligence, and therefore wish to exterminate them; while many of the others see humans' lack of patrons as an opportunity to bully them mercilessly. It does not help that humans have a relatively non-hierarchical society with rather informal habits of speech, while most of galactic society is rather feudal and very particular about etiquette, especially deference. The Uplift Universe is a fictional universe created by science fiction writer David Brin. ... The 2005 Hugo Award with base designed by Deb Kosiba. ... For the fictional charm which is mentioned in the Harry Potter series of novels, see Patronus Charm Patronus (plural patroni) was the term used to refer to a Patrician benefactor in the Patrician/Plebian relationship called clientela, which was part of the social customs of Ancient Rome, extending back as... Sapience is the ability of an organism or entity to act with judgment. ... In Ancient Roman society, a client (Latin, cliens) was a plebeian who was attached to a patron benefactor (patronus, a predecessor to the Italian padrino, godfather). ... Faster-than-light (also superluminal or FTL) communications and travel are staples of the science fiction genre. ... Look up Heresy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... A hierarchy (in Greek hieros = sacred, arkho = rule) is a system of ranking and organizing things. ... Feudalism comes from the Late Latin word feudum, itself borrowed from a Germanic root *fehu, a commonly used term in the Middle Ages which means fief, or land held under certain obligations by feodati. ... It has been suggested that Office etiquette be merged into this article or section. ...

The Uplift Series

• Sundiver (1980)
• Startide Rising (1983)
• The Uplift War (1987)
• The Uplift Storm Trilogy:
  • Brightness Reef (1995)
  • Infinity's Shore (1996)
  • Heaven's Reach (1998) ISBN 0-553-57473-6
• Contacting Aliens: An Illustrated Guide to David Brin's Uplift Universe written with Kevin Lenagh

There is also an Uplift supplement for the roleplaying game GURPS allowing players to play out adventures in the universe destcribed in these novels. Although Brin did not write the GURPS supplement, he did contribute information to it. Sundiver is the first book of David Brins first uplift trilogy. ... Startide Rising is a 1983 science fiction novel by David Brin and the second book of six set in his Uplift Universe (preceded by Sundiver and followed by The Uplift War). ... The Uplift War is a 1987 science fiction novel by David Brin and the third book of six set in his Uplift Universe. ... The Uplift Universe is a fictional universe created by science fiction writer David Brin. ... Brightness Reef is a 1995 science fiction novel by David Brin and the fourth book of six set in his Uplift Universe (preceded by The Uplift War and followed by Infinitys Shore). ... Infinitys Shore is the second novel in the Uplift Storm series by David Brin. ... Heavens Reach is the third novel in the Uplift Storm series by David Brin. ... A roleplaying game (RPG) is a type of game in which players assume the roles of characters and collaboratively create stories. ... The Generic Universal Role-Playing System, commonly known as GURPS is a form of a role-playing game (RPG) designed to adapt to any imaginary gaming environment. ...

Other well-known works by David Brin include his book that completes and ties up all of the loose ends in the legendary Asimov's Foundation Universe: Isaac Asimov (January 2?, 1920?[1] – April 6, 1992), IPA: , originally Исаак Озимов but now transcribed into Russian as Айзек Азимов) was a Russian-born American Jewish author and professor of biochemistry, a highly successful and exceptionally prolific writer best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. ... Hari Seldons holographic image, pictured on a paperback edition of Foundation, appears at various times in the First Foundations history, to guide it through the social and economic crises that befall it. ...

• Foundation's Triumph (1999)

and his stand alone novels: Foundations Triumph (1999) is a science fiction novel by David Brin, set in Isaac Asimovs Foundation universe. ...

• The Practice Effect (1984)
• The Postman (1985) Originally appeared, in substantially different form, as a three-part novella in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. (Filmed by Kevin Costner as a major motion picture with disappointing box-office numbers; Brin has spoken kindly of the film, a generosity shown by few of his fans, who found it deeply disappointing.)
• Heart of the Comet (1986) (with Gregory Benford)
• Earth (1990) (Hugo Award 2nd place, with many Predictive "hits" http://earthbydavidbrin.pbwiki.com/
• Glory Season (1993)
• Kiln People (2002)
  • Kiln People (published in the UK as Kil'n People) had the dubious distinction of finishing second in four different awards for best SF/fantasy novel of 2002--the Hugo, the Locus, the John W. Campbell Award, and the Arthur C. Clarke Award; each time finishing behind a different book.
• Forgiveness (2002) (Graphic novel set in the Star Trek: The Next Generation universe)
• The Life Eaters (2003) (Graphic novel published by the Wildstorm imprint of DC Comics, art by Scott Hampton)

His short fiction has been collected in: The Practice Effect is a novel by David Brin, written in 1984 (see 1984 in literature). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Asimovs Science Fiction is a science fiction magazine, first published in 1977 as Isaac Asimovs Science Fiction Magazine or IASFM for short. ... Kevin Michael Costner (born January 18, 1955) is a two-time Academy Award-winning American film actor and director who has often produced his own films. ... Heart of the Comet is a novel by David Brin and Gregory Benford, published in 1986. ... Gregory Benford (born January 30, 1941 in Mobile, Alabama) is an American science fiction author and physicist who is on the faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. ... Cover of 1991 Spectra mass market paperback edition. ... Glory Season is a 1993 feminist science-fiction novel by David Brin. ... Kiln People is a 2002 science-fiction novel by David Brin. ... Kiln People is a 2002 science-fiction novel by David Brin. ... The 2005 Hugo Award with base designed by Deb Kosiba. ... The Locus Awards are presented to winners of Locus Magazines annual readers poll, which was established in the early 70s specifically to provide recommendations and suggestions to Hugo Awards voters. ... There are two major science fiction awards named in honour of John W. Campbell: John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in Science Fiction The two awards are entirely separate and run by different organisations (see individual pages for... The Arthur C. Clarke Award is a British award given for the best science fiction novel first published in the United Kingdom during the previous year. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... The Life Eaters is a 2003 science fiction graphic novel by David Brin. ... WildStorm Productions, or simply WildStorm or Wildstorm, is a publishing imprint and studio of American comic book publisher DC Comics. ... DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ... Category: ...

• The River of Time (1986)
• Otherness (1994)
• Tomorrow Happens (2003)

Brin wrote the storyline for Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future. The River of Time (1986) is an anthology of science fiction short stories by David Brin. ... Otherness (1994) is an anthology of science fiction short stories by David Brin. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ...

Several of his novels refer to the fictional Anglic language, a future variety of English. A variety of a language is a form that differs from other forms of the language systematically and coherently. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Brin also wrote a number of articles criticising several science-fiction and fantasy series, such as Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Star Wars, and The Lord of the Rings. On Star Wars Brin focused on what he called an "agenda" on the part of George Lucas, describing how he believed the basis of the Star Wars universe was profoundly anti-democratic. These essays inspired a debate-format book: Star Wars On Trial which clashed "defense vs prosecution" testimony covering a dozen political and philosophical and storytelling charges against the Star Wars Universe. Brin also criticised The Lord of the Rings for what he perceived to be their unquestioning devotion to a traditional elitist social structure, their positive depiction of the slaughter of the opposing forces, and their romantic backward-looking worldview. Joseph John Campbell (March 26, 1904 – October 31, 1987) was an American professor, writer, and orator best known for his work in the fields of comparative mythology and comparative religion. ... The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949) is the seminal work of comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell. ... Star Wars is an epic science fantasy saga and fictional universe created by George Lucas during the late 1970s. ... The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel written by the English academic J. R. R. Tolkien. ... George Walton Lucas, Jr. ...

Concerns and themes of his work

Brin's work focuses on a number of themes common to contemporary North American science-fiction literature. Speaking of Brin's 'original' works (works not set into pre-existing series or "universes"), his primary focus is the impact on human society of technology man develops for himself. This is obviously most noticeable in The Practice Effect, Glory Season and Kiln People. His Uplift collection, while embracing a wide set of concerns, can also be so characterised: ultimately, the story of the series is Humanity's re-ordering and reconception of the universe through the genetic engineering of dolphins and chimpanzees to sentience.

Also interesting to note is the impact of Brin's Jewish heritage — especially, the concept of Tikkun Olam ("repairing the world" — the notion that persons have a duty to make the world a better place to live in). While originally a religious concept, Brin, like many non-orthodox Jews, has reconfigured this into a secular notion of working, as one can, to aid the general status of the human condition, increase knowledge, and to prevent long-term evils from occurring. Brin has confirmed that this notion in part underscores the notion of humans as "caretakers" of sentient-species-yet-to-be, as he explains in a concluding note at the end of Startide Rising. Another interesting motif is the importance of laws and legality in many of his novels, whether intergalactic law in the Uplift series or the more mundane law of near-future California in Kiln People. For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... Tikkun Olam (תיקון עולם) is a Hebrew phrase which translates literally as repairing the world. It is a belief that was made central by the Kabbalah, esoteric Jewish mysticism, which is developed in the Zohar, a classic book of Jewish mysticism. ... Orthodox Judaism is one of the three major branches of Judaism. ...

Unlike some sf writers who revel in the extremity of their imagined human societies, while Brin's novels feature profound, fundamental changes to the human condition (wrought by technology change and various events), these changes are always mediated by an intrinsic human instinct towards moderation. In short, these are different worlds but ones where the basic subjectivity of human experience, belief and rationality are easily recognizable as those that have governed most of the liberal West since the Enlightenment. ...

Nonfiction

• The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Privacy and Freedom? (1998) ISBN 0-7382-0144-8 - won the Freedom of Speech Award of the American Library Association

• Star Wars on Trial : Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Debate the Most Popular Science Fiction Films of All Time (2006) ISBN 1-932100-89-X

• Various scientific papers have punctuated the years since his doctoral and postdoctoral work in space physics, cometary studies, optics and spacecraft design for the California Space Institute

Brin consults and speaks for a wide variety of groups interested in the future, ranging from Defense Department agencies and the CIA to Procter & Gamble, SAP, Google and other major corporations.[1] He has also been a participant in discussions at the Philanthropy Roundtable and other groups seeking innovative problem solving approaches.[2] The Transparent Society (1998, ISBN 0-7382-0144-8, ISBN 020132802X) is a non-fiction book by the science-fiction author David Brin in which he forecasts the erosion of privacy, as it is overtaken by low-cost surveillance, communication and database technology. ... The United States Department of Defense, abbreviated DoD or DOD and sometimes called the Defense Department, is a civilian Cabinet organization of the United States government. ... The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ... Procter & Gamble Co. ... The abbreviation, acronym, or initialism SAP has several different meanings: SAP AG, a German software company, or its various products such as SAP R/3 or SAP Business Information Warehouse second audio program (television) Session Announcement Protocol Soritong audio player Simple As Possible Computer Architecture Structural Adjustment Program of the... Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG and LSE: GGEA) is an American public corporation, specializing in Internet search and online advertising. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

David Brin

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

David Brin

• Official website
• David Brin's blog, Contrary Brin
• Interview with David Brin at SFFWorld.com
• Brin-L.com, home of Brin-L: The David Brin Mailing List. Site includes a collection of David Brin's essays.
• Brin's mailing list/discussion group
• David Brin at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• All of David Brin's audio interviews on the podcast The Future And You, in which he describes his expectations of the future
• Critical Resources :: David Brin
• Metareview, Kiln/Kil'n People