Books like Brightness reef by David Brin

David Brin returns to his celebrated Uplift universe in "Brightness Reef," the first volume of a new trilogy. The planet Jijo, once banned to settlers and protected by the enigmatic guardians of the Five Galaxies, has become home to refugees of six intelligent races who have woven a new, fragile society. Their survival depends on hiding from the Five Galaxies, who will arrive one day to evaluate the illegal colony. When a mysterious starship lands on Jijo, it brings the potential for judgment—or possibly a more sinister threat: a band of criminals intent on destroying the six races to cover their own crimes. Brin blends adventure, action, and thoughtful reflection on genetic engineering and alien contact as the characters navigate the danger, the planetary ecology, and the looming threat of interstellar judgment.

First publish date: 1995