Heaven’s Reach: The Uplift Trilogy, Book 3
Kindle
$8.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$24.45
Paperback
$17.54
Audible Logo Enjoy this audiobook free + more
Free title with your free trial!
$0.00
  • Click above to get a preview of our newest plan - unlimited listening to select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
  • You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
  • $7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel online anytime.
Learn more about membership
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
List Price: $25.79
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible’s Conditions Of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice.
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Heaven’s Reach: The Uplift Trilogy, Book 3 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

David Brin (Author), George Wilson (Narrator), Recorded Books (Publisher)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 598 ratings
See all formats and editions

The final volume of the Uplift trilogy by Hugo and Nebula Award winner David Brin, Heaven’s Reach brings readers back to the planet Jijo one last time. The starship Streaker is still on the run with its dangerous cargo of ancient artifacts when the prophesied Time of Changes rocks the galaxy. As each race battles for control and chaos reigns, the truth about the Five Galaxies and The Progenitors finally comes to light.

Previous page
  1. Listening Length
    22 hours and 23 minutes
  2. Author
    David Brin
  3. Narrator
    George Wilson
  4. Audible release date
    February 23, 2010
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Recorded Books
  7. ASIN
    B0039OZFWM
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
Next page

Read & Listen

Switch between reading the Kindle book & listening to the Audible audiobook with Whispersync for Voice.
Get the Audible audiobook for the reduced price of $7.49 after you buy the Kindle book.

Product details

Listening Length 22 hours and 23 minutes
Author David Brin
Narrator George Wilson
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date February 23, 2010
Publisher Recorded Books
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0039OZFWM
Best Sellers Rank #116,625 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#808 in First Contact Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#2,121 in Space Opera Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#2,733 in Adventure Science Fiction

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
598 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

JF
5.0 out of 5 stars Pertinent considering what medical science is doing today.
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
Story line , consider the ramifications. Good sci-fi!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
illiandantic
4.0 out of 5 stars Final Book of a Great Saga
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2004
Verified Purchase
Currently, there are six books in Brin's Uplift saga. It's kind of hard to categorize these books as elements of a series, though. The first three books in the saga, "Sundiver," "Startide Rising," and "The Uplift War," are not really a trilogy or a series in the normal sense. Instead, "Sundiver" relates to the rest of the saga as Tolkien's "The Hobbit" relates to his "Lord of the Rings:" it sets the stage for all the rest of the books in the saga. "Startide Rising" and "The Uplift War" describe completely different plotlines originating from the same event far distant, time wise and space wise, from "Sundiver". In a pinch, you could read these books in any order and not really miss anything. They describe different points in time and space of the same Universe. Of course, the best order is the one listed, above.

Unlike the first three books in the saga, the second three books DO form a series. The first of this trilogy, "Brightness Reef," picks up with yet another totally independent plotline and brand new characters. However, it does contain a central character who ties the first three books into this set. Unfortunately, Brin doesn't say, specifically, who that character is until the very end of the book. Even worse, the last time the character was used was so far back in the saga that it's hard to remember anything about him. The remaining two books, "Infinity's Shore" and "Heaven's Reach," continue sequentially from the first and form a tightly knit trilogy with no breaks in time.

None of these books is "happy" or "light reading." For the most part, they're all intense, heavily detailed and fully characterized books. "Sundiver" is the least "heavy" and most lacking in the realistic feel of the rest of the books. But, for the most part, if you like "Sundiver," you'll definitely want to continue with the rest of the saga. Even if you don't like "Sundiver," I highly recommend you read at least "Startide Rising:" it has an entirely different feel to it and might be more to your liking. This saga is just too important to miss out on. As a whole, it's one of the great works of science fiction and one of the few pieces of science fiction that belong in the class of true literature.

The following are some comments on the individual books:

Sundiver: Somewhat different from the other books in the saga in that it's more of a science fiction mystery than a science fiction drama. This book sets the stage for the rest of the saga as it chronicles events that happen several hundred years before what happens in the other books. About the only thing negative I can come up with is that I wish Brin had written several prequels to it so we could read about the earlier adventures of Jacob Demwa that are referenced in this book.

Startide Rising: This book focuses on the group that starts all the other events noted in the remaining books of the saga. Though the main characters start off in a very bad way, Brin does a good job of moving them forward, and upward, throughout the book.

The Uplift War: The events in this book start from the same event that kicks off "Startide Rising." But, other than that, the two books are totally independent. Like "Startide Rising," Brin produced a gripping plot, great character development, and a good progression towards a positive goal.

Brightness Reef: This is definitely not a happy book. It starts out with many non-pleasant activities and fights its way forward from there. The biggest problem I have with it is that it's very hard to see how anything good or positive is going to happen to the main characters, no matter how much they try.

Infinity's Shore: First, the negative: once this book starts, it's very apparent that a whole lot of relevant stuff has been happening elsewhere that we missed. Essentially, there's at least one entire book that sounds extremely interesting that's missing from the saga. Brin fills in most of this back-story during this book and "Heaven's Reach." But, I'd sure like to have read that missing book. On the positive side, this book re-introduces us to old friends and subtly changes the focus to them. Everything's still happening in the same place with mostly the same characters, but the attitude changes and becomes more can-do.

Heaven's Reach: One difficulty with this book is due to how it continues from the previous book. It's merely a change of venue instead of a new set of adventures. A quote from one of the main characters near the end of this book sort of sums up my feelings about it: "...what will one more worry matter? I've long passed the point where I stopped counting them." Essentially, by the time this book and saga starts winding down (and even at the point of that quotation, it really hasn't started that yet), the reader is totally fatigued by never-ending problems. I really like these works, but the lack of a tie-up between "Infinity's Shore" and this book is grinding.
25 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Rossfrost
5.0 out of 5 stars A true science fiction master
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2016
Verified Purchase
A true science fiction book will explore an idea or concept to its zenith. Brin will weave several concepts and ideas into one book breathing life into words and depth into imagination. Take this journey with Brin. His payoffs may be long and hard sought but very worth it.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
WHB
5.0 out of 5 stars Like Riding a Sine Wave
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2017
Verified Purchase
As I read Brin's series, I felt as riding a roller coaster of many manifestations. Mental imagery, sometimes silly and nonsensical, interwoven with mathematical concepts on the fringe of modern science, imbracing a cast of alien races, all different yet bound by the reality in which they exist. If love and acceptance by these disparate entities could exist then so could egotism and the need for dominance by one race over the other. The Jophur's relentless pursuit of the Earthling (Wolfling), Seeker ship across megaparsecs of space lifts the humans to achieve the impossible, while revealing the frailties of all sapients, even the trancendants. At times I thought the story inane, at the end I was brought to tears, confirmed in me Brin's soul.
Helpful
 Report
Amaxon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars 'Hail Mary Play' in Space
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2016
Verified Purchase
Space Opera and Greed in the far future
A reader will invest in the literary characters who make daring plans and lead others into danger. Alas, Brin abandons many as their research vessel runs from one planet to another. (minus one star) Still, they loom in memories as remaining crew struggle with equipment and the actions of other species. As an AI says:
'My point is that this ship, Streaker, has suffered terrible persecution because it represents a danger and an affront to reverent tradition all across the Five Galaxies.
The relics and data you carry appear to threaten deeply held creeds.' ( p. 351)
Neither the Galactic Encyclopedia (seen in  Sundiver (The Uplift Saga, Book 1)  and  Startide Rising (The Uplift Saga, Book 2) ), or treaties protect them. Yet their goal is return to Earth.
This series breaks ground by measuring in unfamiliar units of time, velocity, communications and routes to other star systems. Nothing is familiar. In fact, travel through 'E Space' involves experiencing psychedelic illusions clustered around a tubular representation of realspace. We meet Harry, a chim who patrols and fights predatory constructs there. Loyal to the end, his last mission sends him into the blackness of space. (minus one star)
The book is an extended discourse on species that reach the peak of enlightenment and depart the temporal world.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Patti D C
5.0 out of 5 stars Spacebreaking
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2020
Verified Purchase
As an admirer of science fiction from its earliest forms, I have always enjoyed the introduction of new concepts mixed in with tried and true concepts, and Be on does not disappoint with his Uplift trilogy. The reason for this is that while many authors have dwelt on the uplifting of humans by ancient aliens, not enough have given humanity its due, i.e., that we did it ourselves. I love the different types of beings Brin created simply for their originality, but also for their malleability. I would love to see a movie series made of these books!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Captain Cretin
5.0 out of 5 stars Great value
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 5, 2017
Verified Purchase
Really good condition copy
Report
wakeup52
5.0 out of 5 stars あぁ面白かった！
Reviewed in Japan on October 30, 2002
Verified Purchase
邦訳「戦乱の大地」の尻切れトンボのラストに､怒りと欲求不満のエネルギーが充満して､一気に読んでしまいました。（邦訳は多分来年でしょう）
ジョファーに追われたストリーカーの運命は､ジージョ生まれのラーク達兄弟、アルヴィン達はどうなるのか・・
　前作同様にめまぐるしく変わるシーンにも慣れ､謎の水素呼吸種族や､ジージョでの活躍が少なかった我らのチンプも登場して､おまけに､前作で「戦乱の大地｣ではあっさり触れられただけのエピソードにも決着がついて､しっかり楽しめます。ただ､三部作の前二作（邦訳・原書に関わらず）を読んでいないと何が書いてあるか分からないかも知れません。
4 people found this helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars For die hard sci figure readers
Reviewed in Canada on January 7, 2014
Verified Purchase
also for those readers interested in stretching their imaginations. Not light or easy reading, but on the whole cohesive.
It needs conclusions though, and leaves the reader without a satisfying ending.
Report
LG
4.0 out of 5 stars good but too many implausible concepts and lose endings
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2013
Verified Purchase
This trilogy and the books before it are an interesting read but for me too disjointed. There is no bringing together of all the characters and a huge question left hanging at the end which to my mind leaves a couple of thousand pages hanging and unfinished. It's not what it should be but the final book certainly pushes the technology ideas to operatic levels.
It's all in better reviews than mine.
Report
quilin
4.0 out of 5 stars そして、宇宙（そら）は崩壊する。
Reviewed in Japan on December 6, 2004
Verified Purchase
～先の２冊（正確には各「上・下」なので４冊）で、ようやくジージョの独特な世界観や多様な登場人物に馴染み、ある種の愛着が生まれたのも束の間、舞台は広大な宇宙へと。
隠棲系統（「古きもの達」）ならばまだしも、「水素呼吸類」から「機械類」、さらには「思念類」に「量子類」までもが登場。それでも飽き足らずに「E空間」なる概念も導入される有様。～～これまでの他種属同士の反目だけでなく、「怪しげな宗教抗争」まで加わり、挙げ句、「宇宙が崩壊する」わ、「混成知性生物が誕生する」わってんですから、いやはや、そのスケールたるや言葉を失ってしまいます。参りました。
それらのアイデアを、良い意味でも「何処かからの借用」ではないにもかかわらず、きちんと読み手に伝えられる表現力（ただし、こ～～れまでの「知性化シリーズ」を全て読んでいるという前提ですが）は、やはりブリンの底力を魅せつけられた思いです。
何はともあれ、ストリーカーは満身創痍ながらも遂に地球へ辿り着き、今まさに人類を根絶やしにせんとする列強種属の地球包囲網は（一時的にせよ？）散開。めでたし、めでたし、のようですが、果たして本当にそうでしょうか？
あくまで～～「一時的に」解放されたかに見える地球＝人類の、あるいは、ジージョに戻ったドワーや「スーパーサ○ア人」の如く変容したネオ・チンプ、ハリーたちや、ザンやジョファー、ネオ・フィンとともに「混成知性生物」へと「進化？」し「五銀河系の向こう側」へと跳んで行ったラークの、その後の運命は？
そもそも「ハービー」の正体とは何だったのか？そして、～～この「大変革」の全てがブユルの「質の悪いジョーク」だとすれば、彼らの正体と真意は一体？（この辺りについては、アンソロジー「SFの地平」収録の「誘惑」も一読を！）と、まだまだ「知性化宇宙」は広がる予感が・・・。恐るべし！～
5 people found this helpful
 Report