Startide Rising
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4.5 • 43 Ratings
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- $9.99
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.
Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards
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.
"An extraordinary achievement." —SFWA Grand Master Poul Anderson
"One of maybe twenty science fiction novels that deserve the label classic." —Time
The Uplift Saga
Sundiver
Startide Rising
The Uplift War
The Uplift Storm Trilogy
Brightness Reef
Infinity's Shore
Heaven's Reach
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
Well worth your time
I wasn’t sure what to think when I first heard of this book. I’m glad I gave it a try, though. Each and every one of the characters ooze humanity, and the payoffs were all very well crafted. I look forward to reading the rest of the saga!
What a waste of time
This book was recommended, I wish it hadn’t been. It could’ve been an interesting storyline, but it wasn’t.