Why I like the Uplift universe: It’s a very underrated sci-fi series. In the Uplift universe, it’s generally thought a species can only reach sentience by being “uplifted” by a more advanced one. Humanity has uplifted chimpanzees and dolphins to sentience (or at least close enough) and that gets us noticed by a galactic conglomerate of aliens called the Five Galaxies whose culture is based around the concept of uplift. Unlike Star Trek or Star Wars, humanity is not a ‘leading species’. We are hundreds or even millennia behind many other species and one of the few things that kept us from getting exterminated by a more advanced civilization was the fact we had unknowingly achieved “Patron” status by having two “client” species. However, the fact humanity has no “Patron” baffles many of the different factions of aliens and some even think the claim we naturally evolved is stupid as well as heretical. Fortunately, not all of the aliens hate us. I like how humans aren’t the only Earthlings and the adventures are very gripping. The books were also an inspiration for the Ecco the Dolphin games and David Brin even wrote the story for the last Ecco game.
Why I like the Sprawl trilogy: It more or less got cyberpunk started. It created a lot of the tropes such as hacking through cyberspace, body modification, high-octane violence, and even coined the word Matrix. A lot of William Gibson’s love for Japan is a big part of the trilogy, especially the first and third books. A lot of what you see in Ghost in the Shell, Battle Angel Alita, and Eden It’s An Endless World! draws inspiration from these books.
Why I like the Bridge trilogy: It’s still cyberpunk but more near-future than far-future in approach like our own reality is becoming like the one in the Bridge universe.
Reading the books also took me back to my happier days in the 90’s due to the atmosphere of them even though the universe is set in a now alternate vision of 2005. The books have a lot of cerebral moments and a down to Earth feel to them. It also shows more of William Gibson’s love for Japan.
Why I like the Moreau Quartet: It takes place in a far future where genetically modified animals called Moreaus are trying to integrate into human society after being originally used solely for war but they are treated like second class citizens by humans though not nearly as bad as ‘Franks’ (genetically modified and cybernetic humans). It’s interesting to see the cultures of the different races of Moreaus and reflects a lot of social issues without being preachy. Reading it also takes me back to the 90’s.
