The story involves a world in which entropy works in reverse.Ī scientist by the name of Dennis Nuel is working at, and attending, an institute of scientific research and pioneering work into the fictional scientific field of 'Zievatronics', the manipulation of Time and Space.

This is the most successful story as story – plot, characters, etc., and the most satisfying to Uplift fans.The Practice Effect is a novel by David Brin, written in 1984.

“Temptation” – what happened to the dolphins Streaker left behind.

The only one of the message-driven stories here with much impact, but it fades toward the end.

“An Ever-Reddening Glow” – the consequences of widespread star-drive technology.

“The Tumbledowns of Cleopatra Abyss” – a colony living under the ocean, but still at risk.

“Insistence of Vision” – an interesting concept (punishment by virtual tagging), though not really a great story.

Unless you’re a serious Brin or Uplift fan, I can’t recommend the collection. A day after finishing the book, very few of the stories stayed in my mind. The rest of the stories read largely as philosophical lectures forced into a poorly-fitting narrative format. The only piece that really works as a fully- functioning story is a novella set in the Uplift universe that feels a bit like the second, less-interesting, Uplift trilogy. There’s very little of the zest that filled The Practice Effect, and less of the drive of The Postman.

I found it hard to care what happened, and the self-consciously ‘important’ themes began to wear. Several of the stories here are acknowledged thought experiments, but almost all of them read as if they were. Brin’s writing remains intelligent, mildly interesting, and emotionally flat. I’m sorry to say that my view hasn’t changed. This new collection of stories was a chance to go back to an author I once quite liked. After Kiln People, I mostly lost track of Brin. It was intelligent and interesting, but emotionally flat.

Gradually, though, I began to tire of Brin’s oppressively serious writing. I liked that, The Postman, The Practice Effect, and a few others. I started reading David Brin a long time ago – probably with the Uplift series.

The practice effect by david brin