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The Ancient Ones
We never expected that inventing Star-Drive would lead to this. We were first! Bold explorers who brought light and movement to the galaxy, teaching others and forging a grand alliance with all races. (Well, most of them.) It seemed the galaxy would be ours to lead and to share! Till we met demmies. Oh, they’re not so bad. They mean well. Impulsive and exasperating, sure. Often brilliant, puckish, idiotic, mercurial, always astonishing… did I mention exasperating? And lucky. Gradually, it dawned on humanity -- Hey, that’s what WE wanted to be! In ancient myths and sci-fi dreams, it's how we pictured ourselves. As the impulsive-lucky ones. Only now… they reverently call Earthlings "the Ancient Ones." And demmies are having all the fun!
The adventure begins when the crew unreels a humungous hose down to the surface and hurries down to discover a whole lot of somethings weird. Life… death… and the living dead… will never be the same.
A new science fiction comedy from David Brin -- author of award-winning science fiction novels, such as The Postman, Earth, Existence, Startide Rising, Sundiver and The Practice Effect.
The adventure begins when the crew unreels a humungous hose down to the surface and hurries down to discover a whole lot of somethings weird. Life… death… and the living dead… will never be the same.
A new science fiction comedy from David Brin -- author of award-winning science fiction novels, such as The Postman, Earth, Existence, Startide Rising, Sundiver and The Practice Effect.
- GenresScience FictionHumor
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2020
162 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
David Brin
335 books3,318 followersDavid Brin is a scientist, speaker, and world-known author. His novels have been New York Times Bestsellers, winning multiple Hugo, Nebula and other awards. At least a dozen have been translated into more than twenty languages.
Existence, his latest novel, offers an unusual scenario for first contact. His ecological thriller, Earth, foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and near-future trends such as the World Wide Web. A movie, directed by Kevin Costner, was loosely based on his post-apocalyptic novel, The Postman. Startide Rising won the Hugo and Nebula Awards for best novel. The Uplift War also won the Hugo Award.
His non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with secrecy in the modern world. It won the Freedom of Speech Prize from the American Library Association.
Brin serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI, nanotechnology, and philanthropy.
David appears frequently on TV, including "The Universe" and on the History Channel's "Life After People."
Full and updated at:
http://www.davidbrin.com/biography.htm
Existence, his latest novel, offers an unusual scenario for first contact. His ecological thriller, Earth, foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and near-future trends such as the World Wide Web. A movie, directed by Kevin Costner, was loosely based on his post-apocalyptic novel, The Postman. Startide Rising won the Hugo and Nebula Awards for best novel. The Uplift War also won the Hugo Award.
His non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with secrecy in the modern world. It won the Freedom of Speech Prize from the American Library Association.
Brin serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI, nanotechnology, and philanthropy.
David appears frequently on TV, including "The Universe" and on the History Channel's "Life After People."
Full and updated at:
http://www.davidbrin.com/biography.htm
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 23, 2021
Yes, David Brin recently wrote a humor SF.
I mean, it being humor is already a hard task to pull off, but what I'm more fixated on is the fact that Brin has put anything ELSE out since Existence or the other short collection in over ten years, and that almost sums up everything in the last 20.
I miss Brin's writing. Of course, this isn't exactly the hard-hitting stuff that I was used to. This is extremely lite-fare that feels like Star Trek had a baby with showtunes, sprinkled with the oldest, goofiest vampire memorabilia, and topped off with a deep look at old folks and young folks and the great abyss that separates them.
It's not bad, but it did feel like an easygoing stroll through slightly skewed fandom with a big emphasis on how old folks feel young, too, and hate the straightjacket of other people's (or alien's) perceptions.
Even I have a hard time taking outright humor all that seriously, and the way this one went, I never quite laughed. I snickered and chuckled a few times, however, but this isn't a classic in any sense of the word.
I wouldn't start here if you're getting your first introduction to Brin.
I mean, it being humor is already a hard task to pull off, but what I'm more fixated on is the fact that Brin has put anything ELSE out since Existence or the other short collection in over ten years, and that almost sums up everything in the last 20.
I miss Brin's writing. Of course, this isn't exactly the hard-hitting stuff that I was used to. This is extremely lite-fare that feels like Star Trek had a baby with showtunes, sprinkled with the oldest, goofiest vampire memorabilia, and topped off with a deep look at old folks and young folks and the great abyss that separates them.
It's not bad, but it did feel like an easygoing stroll through slightly skewed fandom with a big emphasis on how old folks feel young, too, and hate the straightjacket of other people's (or alien's) perceptions.
Even I have a hard time taking outright humor all that seriously, and the way this one went, I never quite laughed. I snickered and chuckled a few times, however, but this isn't a classic in any sense of the word.
I wouldn't start here if you're getting your first introduction to Brin.
April 14, 2021
A first contact with a strange, new world is both stranger and newer than Dr Montessori expected when the "Clever Gamble" investigates.
Some of the worst puns accompany a whirligig tour of the planet where readers get to meet some caricatures of SF stalwarts. While I enjoyed this novel immensely, I can understand why it might not be to everyone's taste.
Some of the worst puns accompany a whirligig tour of the planet where readers get to meet some caricatures of SF stalwarts. While I enjoyed this novel immensely, I can understand why it might not be to everyone's taste.
April 15, 2020
Puns, puns and oh my puns!
Farce....if you liked Galaxy Quest you will enjoy this Sci-fi comedy. Indeed it took me a bit to match the pun. I so seldom have an opportunity to laugh out loud, but I enjoyed every moment of it.
I have read other works by David Brin...and have enjoyed them. This is different. Not so much as in style but intent in the kind of story it is. Enjoy.
Farce....if you liked Galaxy Quest you will enjoy this Sci-fi comedy. Indeed it took me a bit to match the pun. I so seldom have an opportunity to laugh out loud, but I enjoyed every moment of it.
I have read other works by David Brin...and have enjoyed them. This is different. Not so much as in style but intent in the kind of story it is. Enjoy.
June 14, 2020
Paean for a forgotten age
David Brin and I are of a certain age. We came up in the time of the original "Star Trek." I'm a bit younger than Brin, and so perhaps even more imbued with that zeitgeist. The shade of James Tiberius Kirk haunts my dreams, and as the unfortunate result of tragic exposure at just the wrong age, I've always had a thing for green women. Much like Leon of "Blade Runner" fame, I know what it's like to have an itch you can never scratch. ;-) Basically, I *am* a demmie at heart. So, naturally, I found myself constantly chuckling as I paged through "The Ancient Ones." On the other hand, if you aren't a card carrying member of generation Boomer, and a hopeless Trekkie to boot, you'll likely find much of the humor of "The Ancient Ones" utterly opaque. That's really the only problem with "The Ancient Ones;" it's aimed at a *very* narrow audience. Since it's no fun to not be in on the joke, caveat emptor - YMMV.
David Brin and I are of a certain age. We came up in the time of the original "Star Trek." I'm a bit younger than Brin, and so perhaps even more imbued with that zeitgeist. The shade of James Tiberius Kirk haunts my dreams, and as the unfortunate result of tragic exposure at just the wrong age, I've always had a thing for green women. Much like Leon of "Blade Runner" fame, I know what it's like to have an itch you can never scratch. ;-) Basically, I *am* a demmie at heart. So, naturally, I found myself constantly chuckling as I paged through "The Ancient Ones." On the other hand, if you aren't a card carrying member of generation Boomer, and a hopeless Trekkie to boot, you'll likely find much of the humor of "The Ancient Ones" utterly opaque. That's really the only problem with "The Ancient Ones;" it's aimed at a *very* narrow audience. Since it's no fun to not be in on the joke, caveat emptor - YMMV.
December 6, 2020
Zero stars isn’t an option. If this wasn’t a book club book, I’d have finished after chapter three (you have to give it a chance, right?). Stupid premise chock full of puns worse than those my middle school-aged boys would write. Complete waste of time even during a quarantine where I’ve got nothing but time.
May 12, 2020
Just a bunch of bad puns
Very disappointing. Interesting possibilities for the universe and concept, but wasted on poor and unfunny humor. Very very very sad.
Very disappointing. Interesting possibilities for the universe and concept, but wasted on poor and unfunny humor. Very very very sad.
May 24, 2020
Two hours I will never get back.
March 26, 2020
I don’t write reviews, but this is worth sharing. I thoroughly enjoyed David Brin’s hilarious send up of sci-fi and horror literature, film, and TV. He parodies and skewers classics like Trek, Dune, vampires, werewolves, and punny, punny more. Hint at the humor within. Kind of a Hitchhiker’s Guide meets the Muppet Show. I’m sure I missed a “Pigs in Space” reference in there somewhere. Loved the ending. That he was inspired by some of my favorites like Harvard Lampoon’s Bored of the Rings, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, et al is no surprise at all. Defiant returning to squid for a rerun. And I will be singing the “This is the end of the world as we know it...”
July 4, 2021
This is a “critter’s” book, like the fuzzy books. It is full of excreable puns and the broadest of broad Star Trek satire.
A race of plucky chipmunks are the lucky movers and shakers in their version of a federation kick ass and take names all over our galactic sector. Humans take the role of Vulcans, and the whole tale is related by the science officer Alvin Montessori. Nuff said.
This is a corny, punny romp. It is what it is. I enjoyed it on the level it was presented.
A race of plucky chipmunks are the lucky movers and shakers in their version of a federation kick ass and take names all over our galactic sector. Humans take the role of Vulcans, and the whole tale is related by the science officer Alvin Montessori. Nuff said.
This is a corny, punny romp. It is what it is. I enjoyed it on the level it was presented.
July 21, 2021
Satire for the bereaved?
If you are a long time reader of science fiction you will catch more references to Star Trek, Dune, and other trophs I certainly missed. While I got a lot of the puns I am certain I missed others. This book is worth reading if you are taking yourself too seriously. If you don't take yourself to seriously it is an even better read.
If you are a long time reader of science fiction you will catch more references to Star Trek, Dune, and other trophs I certainly missed. While I got a lot of the puns I am certain I missed others. This book is worth reading if you are taking yourself too seriously. If you don't take yourself to seriously it is an even better read.
October 25, 2021
Somehow, all Star Trek parodies I've read or seen so far has been... boring. OK, Scalzi's "Redshirts" was kind of OK, but the rest of them never managed to get a laugh out of me. This book, unfortunately, is no exception. Comedy is hard, and Brin fares better as a "serious" sci-fi write, it seems - his puns are not up to Pratchett's level, and his "whimsical and crazy" setting end up being cringeworthy.
This is a pity, since I genuinely love other Brin's books, and the premise behind this one seemed interesting enough (maybe that I thought about it myself long ago is what makes it interesting to me, but I've seen no other writer tackle it, so there). What if humans somehow end up being "the elder" race - wise, patient and leading wholly unexciting lives while some other "younger" race go on adventures?
Apparently, the answer is "hurricane of bad puns and overused pop culture references". Sigh.
This is a pity, since I genuinely love other Brin's books, and the premise behind this one seemed interesting enough (maybe that I thought about it myself long ago is what makes it interesting to me, but I've seen no other writer tackle it, so there). What if humans somehow end up being "the elder" race - wise, patient and leading wholly unexciting lives while some other "younger" race go on adventures?
Apparently, the answer is "hurricane of bad puns and overused pop culture references". Sigh.
November 18, 2025
Maybe 3 stars. Not what you might expect from Brin. I included the "humor" label because Brin intended that and some find it more humorous than I did. There are word-play and odd new SF tropes. But it didn't do much to my funny bone. (Hey, I can do what I think is clever word-play, but I don't claim it's successfully funny.)
When a human starship visits a new planet for the first time, they find that centuries ago a project supposed to prevent overpopulation has resulted in most people who die become vampires, werewolves or zombies. No, this is not hard SF. The different world may be entertaining.
When a human starship visits a new planet for the first time, they find that centuries ago a project supposed to prevent overpopulation has resulted in most people who die become vampires, werewolves or zombies. No, this is not hard SF. The different world may be entertaining.
March 29, 2020
The Ancient Ones parodies mostly Star Trek, although there are a few jokes that reference Star Wars and Dune, among many others.
The story takes place on a Star Trek style ship that goes to first contact with a planet. But as soon as it lands, they discover it is full of vampires, werewolves and other monsters.
The start was a little weak, but I think it really got more enjoyable in the last half, and I look forward for more stories in the same universe - which seems to be well set up in this book.
Overall, recommended for fans of parodies, comedies and SF.
The story takes place on a Star Trek style ship that goes to first contact with a planet. But as soon as it lands, they discover it is full of vampires, werewolves and other monsters.
The start was a little weak, but I think it really got more enjoyable in the last half, and I look forward for more stories in the same universe - which seems to be well set up in this book.
Overall, recommended for fans of parodies, comedies and SF.
January 25, 2022
As a long-time David Brin fan, I was hoping for something that replicated the magic of Startide Rising or the thought-provoking world of Kiln People.
Instead, I got very poorly done Star Trek-esque satire with a boring, ponderous plot punctuated by every lazy SF trope ever. I gave up halfway through the book out of sheer frustration. Normally, I'm a sucker for bad puns. but when that's the only thing the book has going for it? This book is both pointless and terribly written. Without a doubt Brin's worst work, and not worth reading.
Instead, I got very poorly done Star Trek-esque satire with a boring, ponderous plot punctuated by every lazy SF trope ever. I gave up halfway through the book out of sheer frustration. Normally, I'm a sucker for bad puns. but when that's the only thing the book has going for it? This book is both pointless and terribly written. Without a doubt Brin's worst work, and not worth reading.
March 27, 2020
This is one of the most absurd, punny books I've read. Which is saying a lot - I seek such things out. And this isn't the kind of thing David Brin has been writing recently, so it was a little surprising. I enjoyed it. Especially contrasting with his much-more-serious Uplift series, this was fun.
April 16, 2025
Wow, a different Brin,
Frankly it took me getting into a third of the book before I came to appreciate both the world he created, the plot, and the humor. But I have a David Brin library and finally got around to reading this. I am glad I did. This book has allowed his imagination to expand into new areas. It was a fun read.
Frankly it took me getting into a third of the book before I came to appreciate both the world he created, the plot, and the humor. But I have a David Brin library and finally got around to reading this. I am glad I did. This book has allowed his imagination to expand into new areas. It was a fun read.
August 21, 2020
It was certainly entertaining, but it's very corny. I rolled my eyes a lot. Highlight was the way he makes fun of various sci-fi tv shows and movies. Almost made me want to re-read the first part after I realized he was doing that to see if I had missed anything earlier.
April 21, 2021
It's a good thing that I am myself an inveterate punster.
If you have no tolerance for such humor and if you are not widely enough read to catch the many references and the humor therein, this is possibly not the book you're looking for.
But it sure was for me. 6 stars out of 5.
If you have no tolerance for such humor and if you are not widely enough read to catch the many references and the humor therein, this is possibly not the book you're looking for.
But it sure was for me. 6 stars out of 5.
June 28, 2024
Deeply silly but hey, I enjoyed it (then again I've been known to chuckle at puns). At 266 pages, definitely a light and quick read, with plenty of sendups etc that put me in mind of *The Color of Magic*
March 4, 2025
I really like Brin's writing in his other books, but here it's like he's trying to channel Piers Anthony in the "Xanth" series. The puns are so bad I found myself literally rolling my eyes and sighing in exasperation while reading.
If you like Brin, give this one a pass.
If you like Brin, give this one a pass.
January 1, 2026
A humorous Star Trek pastiche filled with puns and nods to pop-nerd-SF culture. The crew find a planet where the undead sort of get on with each other and the few remaining "standards."
Some good laughs, not to be taken too seriously.
Some good laughs, not to be taken too seriously.
July 10, 2020
Meh... I stopped reading after a 100p or so. I usually like Brin's work, but this one left me cold. Sorry....
Read
December 27, 2020I have no clue how to categorize this one, or even quite what is going on here, fun, funny, weirdly Brin dressed up for halloween
August 1, 2022
Dumb, sorry I started
May 22, 2020
Recent Reads: The Ancient Ones. David Brin turns his sociological theory of the undead into a pun-laden riff on Star Trek (if humanity were the first to the stars and had to be the grown-ups). A comedy of misadventure with a thoughtful core, and one that knows its genre roots.
November 8, 2020
There is no more obvious sign of an author running out of ideas than creating a half-witted genre parody, following a hacked together "novel" made out of discarded short-story ideas that don't fit together properly.
Brin has had an fabulous run with Uplift. He had a novel of great originality with Kil'n People, but that last was nearly 10 years ago, and sadly he hasn't written anything worth reading since.
Terrible to see such a talented novelist struggle like this, but The Ancient Ones is just abject - desperately unfunny, leaden, boring.
Brin has had an fabulous run with Uplift. He had a novel of great originality with Kil'n People, but that last was nearly 10 years ago, and sadly he hasn't written anything worth reading since.
Terrible to see such a talented novelist struggle like this, but The Ancient Ones is just abject - desperately unfunny, leaden, boring.
Did Not Finish
November 7, 2020
January 19, 2021
Wow, that was fun...
May 6, 2022
I really did try to finish this book. I consider Brin a great author so I'm not sure what happened here.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews