Startide Rising

Get ready to dive (pun intended) into the captivating world of David Brin's Startide Rising, a sci-fi adventure that stands the test of time! Even after a couple of decades, this book still manages to deliver a thrilling and thought-provoking experience. Brin's writing style is as straightforward as it gets, cutting through the fluff and getting right to the heart of the story.

In this series, Earth has become a member of the Galactic Civilization, but it's far from a peaceful coexistence. The story unfolds primarily on the spaceship Streaker, crewed by a diverse mix of humans and uplifted dolphins, as they find themselves in possession of a secret that could shift the balance of power among the galaxy's many races. You discover early in the novel that the crew has landed on a water world with some compatibility for the Terran crew, especially the dolphins. This was necessary due to the crew's discovery of a previously unknown race, with implication that they may be related to the mythical “progenitors.” Many predatory galactic races chase the single mostly-dolphin-crewed ship to forcibly take the prize of this discovery before the information can be claimed by the human-coalition.

The characters in Startide Rising are just as direct as Brin's prose, but don't let that fool you. There's plenty of intrigue to be found, especially when it comes to the villains. And here's the kicker: not all of them are alien! Brin keeps you guessing, wondering who's friend and who's foe in this interstellar tale.

But what really makes this series shine is the fascinating exploration of the relationships between humans and other species, both those from Earth and those from distant galaxies. Brin's anthropology background is on full display here, and it's impossible not to get caught up in the complex dynamics between the various races. The interactions are so well-crafted that you'll find yourself pondering the implications long after you've turned the final page.

So, if you're in the mood for a fun, thought-provoking read that will keep you entertained from start to finish, give Startide Rising a go. It was definitely as good as I remember it being.