Startide Rising is
the first book in David Brin’s brilliant Uplift
science fiction series. It begins with the crash landing of Streaker, a dolphin-piloted, human-supervised
ship, the crew of which has recently stumbled upon a discovery of galactic
importance. They’re in a tight spot as some of the more fanatic races of the
galaxy are after them, and the hostility of their new environment isn’t helping
any.
I’m really intrigued by the “Uplift” concept in Brin’s
future universe. Species with potential are genetically modified over centuries
by a patron race to achieve sentience. Humans seem to be an amazing exception, “wolflings”
who pulled themselves into sentience by their own bootstraps. Of course most of
the Galactics, mired in millions if not billions of years of tradition as they
are, aren’t particularly happy with Earth’s humanity.
By the beginning of Startide
Rising, humans have done a bit of uplifting of their own, increasing the intelligence
of chimpanzees and dolphins and making a few modifications to themselves as
well. Now, Streaker is in a whole
world (or perhaps a whole galaxy) of trouble. The reader gets pulled into the
uplifted dolphin mind and into this grand science fiction adventure story.
There are plenty of human characters as well and one particularly brilliant and
arrogant chimpanzee. Not only are these characters trapped in a live-or-die
adventure with large science fiction problems and solutions, but they also must
deal with the more common personality dynamics of a marooned crew on a ship and
the friction caused by big, dangerous secrets, conflicting agendas, and
betrayal.
This is a great story with such a well-established science
fiction setting in which I can settle quite comfortably. The suspension of
disbelief is not the least bit difficult and I’ve continued to find myself a
most willing believer in the Uplift universe. And humanity’s unique position as
a “wolfling” race allows us to remain significant in the midst of a vast, complex,
and ancient civilization in a mind-blowingly vast universe.
A Year of Books I’ve Read Before
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