World Famous Comics: Startide Rising (The Uplift Saga, Book 2)
Startide Rising (The Uplift Saga, Book 2)
By: David Brin Publisher: Spectra Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Spectra Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 496 Publication Date: March 01, 1984 Release Date: March 01, 1984
Product Description: David Brin's Uplift novels are among the most thrilling and extraordinary science fiction ever written. Sundiver, Startide Rising, and The Uplift War--a New York Times bestseller--together make up one of the most beloved sagas of all time. Brin's tales are set in a future universe in which no species can reach sentience without being "uplifted" by a patron race. But the greatest mystery of all remains unsolved: who uplifted humankind?
The Terran exploration vessel Streaker has crashed in the uncharted water world of Kithrup, bearing one of the most important discoveries in galactic history. Below, a handful of her human and dolphin crew battles armed rebellion and a hostile planet to safeguard her secret--the fate of the Progenitors, the fabled First Race who seeded wisdom throughout the stars.
True science fiction classic 'Startide Rising' is a nearly perfect novel. The characters are some of the best I've seen in science fiction: they are neatly drawn and compelling, and they are seamlessly integrated with their setting (about which more later). The writing style is also excellent, again one of the best in science fiction that I have read; Brin's pacing is brisk, his scenes economical and elegant, his summaries (of SF concepts or technology, plot points, background, & c.) compact and not (a common SF fault) sprawling. There are occasional awkward phrasings and punctuation problems, all easily forgivable.
Now, to Brin's setting. The Five Galaxies in which all six of the Uplift books are set is an extremely impressive piece of work. Seldom have I seen a more believable, immersive space-opera-style setting: whenever I come back to Startide Rising I get a true sense of 'home', because the alien species are all distinct, quirky, and even sympathetic at times; the concept of Uplift is startlingly innovative but not at all far-fetched; in short, Brin's setting is wonderfully cohesive and very, very rich. In a genre where success with setting is half of the game, Brin runs ahead of the pack.
Not Free SF Reader Dolphin starship captains are the coolest.
An interspecies earth spaceship, humans, dolphins, and a chimp, make a pretty important discovery that your secretive alien types don't want the young upstart race to know about. Particularly when they flout the established traditions of indentured racial servitude the rest of the Galaxy indulges in during their struggles. So, the chase is on as the crew of the ship tries to survive.
Brin's best! This story has been a perennial of mine since my late teens; I am thirty-five now. Every couple of years I return to the "uplift universe" for an interesting and humbling view of what could be. Brin's world of genetically modified earth mammals(dolphins, chimps etc.),uber powerful alien races and an embattled human race is not to be missed.
Can't get enough What can I say. I wish Brin would write a hundred novels about the adventures of humans with their uplifted dolphins and chimpanzees.
This book, whether recognized by any official agency or not, is a CLASSIC in the world of Science Fiction. It is a must read for any SF reader and should be included on any Fantasy readers list as well.
Startide Rising will lead you into a world that you will not want to leave. You will read this book overnight if you can. Then you will be aching to purchase the other five books that follow the events in Startide Rising.
Brin will introduce you to a few uplifted (intelligent) dolphins and one uplifted chimp and you will find yourself loving some and hating others.
Peck stated in his book on writing fiction that "Fiction is Folks." Well in Brin's case, "Fiction is Folks, Dolphins and Chimps." Brin gives his non-human characters such life and individual characteristics that you find yourself wanted to go the zoos and big aquariums and talk to the animals just to see if they might be ready to talk back.
Read it. There is no alternative if you want your life to be fulfilled.
I started my trilogy here... It is basically part of a three book trilogy about a universe in which all races became sentient by being "uplifted" by previous intelligent races. The Human race is the only race arrogant enough to claim to have evolved. Humans would have been "adopted" into slavery but for the fact that before meeting the universe at large, we "uplifted" dolphins and monkeys. Humans are also considered arrogant because we believe in the value of human technology, while the rest of the universe just "retrieves" their technology from the "library"....but not all libraries are created equal.....
Each book is unique, captivating, and builds to the whole story (although Brin does not answer all questions). I haven't found anybody similar, all said and told. While Sundiver is the first book, I started with Startide Rising, which is still my favorite. There wasn't any real problem, but the Uplift War probably should be read last. Also, a decade or so later Brin created a second trilogy in this universe. I haven't found them nearly as inspired and amazing as these three.
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