Startide Rising
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4.6 • 9 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A starship crew of humans and dolphins skirts the brink of interstellar war in this epic adventure by the New York Times–bestselling author of The Postman.
We are not alone. Humanity’s explorations have revealed galaxies inhabited by millions of intelligent species interacting under ancient traditions. Foremost among said traditions is uplift, which requires all spacefaring races to welcome newcomers into Galactic culture by breeding and genetically guiding each client species to full sapience—but at a price. Patron races demand centuries of indentured servitude from each uplifted client. But is upstart humanity a patron or a client?
The Earthship Streaker—crewed by humans and uplifted dolphins and chimpanzees—discovers a derelict armada, perhaps left by the very first patrons, the fabled Progenitors. Suddenly the Five Galaxies teeter on the brink of all-out war as fanatics hunt Streaker for the secret. With a damaged ship and hostile aliens in pursuit, the crew must band together if they hope to survive . . .
This ebook features a new introduction by the author.
Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards
“An extraordinary achievement.” —Poul Anderson, award-winning author of Tau Zero
“What a wonderful ride . . . Startide Rising is one of the books that I remember most fondly, out of all I have read, and rereading it thirty years later proved just as enjoyable as the first time. I remain amazed at how many different characters and subplots Brin juggles without a misstep, and the way he keeps the tension and suspense high throughout.” —Tor.com
“This is one of the outstanding SF novels of recent years.” —Publishers Weekly
“One of maybe twenty science fiction novels that deserve the label classic.” —Time
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In its original paperback editon of 1983, this novel won both the Hugo and Nebula awards. Brin's extensive revisions make this first hardcover edition an SF event. What remains most impressive is the complex background of political, cultural, linguistic and many other connections and missed connections among innumerable different species. Against the backdrop of an ancient spacefaring conglomerate, whose shared traditions have not halted their wars, the upstart Earthlingshumans, dolphins, chimpanzeesalso stand divided. Brin raises questions not only of understanding but of ethics, for a "patron'' race may genetically uplift another only to indenture them. His depiction of the dolphins' gains and losses now that they've become space pilots is particularly moving. Although Brin's characterization and storytelling are less adept here than in the work he has since written, this is one of the outstanding SF novels of recent years. November 22
Customer Reviews
Still great
This was an eye-opening read back in 1983 and it is the same four decades later.
There are new depths to this book that appear as I age. I strongly recommend re-reading this classic.
Classic Sci-Fi
Brin’s created a universe as complicated and messy as our ‘Blue Marble’ was just before WW1, with a well crafted denouncement of the Great Powers colonial behaviour and slavery represented by the patron-client relationships of the Galactics.
Thirty years on, against a similar messy real world, it is still an enjoyable read, seeing that people as ordinary as a ‘Middie’ can still rise to the challenges and survive, when lesser souls would flounder and drown: a good reminder that we are able to act in the face of certain death and win our life back.