#startide rising

[haveyoureadthisbook-poll]

Have you read Startide Rising by David Brin (1983)?

yes

no

I didn't finish it

I've never heard of it

Voting ended onApr 17, 2025

[snazzy-hats-and-adhd]

Snazzy, I am looking for books that aren't manga to add to my to read list (I just have a lot of Manga on it already XD)

Do you recommend Startide Rising by David Brin? I saw you talking about it on another post and I was wondering if you would Actually Recommend It or is it one of those "this piece of media impacted my life irrevocably and I wouldn't be who I am without it but I would never actually RECOMMEND IT to other people" kind of deals...

So, there are two things to know about Startide Rising. The first is that it is part of a series of two trilogies, and while it is technically the second book, the first trilogy are all kinda vaguely standalone books that just happen to be set in the same universe. The second trilogy are a lot more interconnected.

The second thing to know is that some of the "sci" is a little dated, particularly the psychology-flavoured bits. I didn't enjoy Sundiver (technically the first book, but I probably read it last) as much as I might otherwise have because of that, but if you are like me and you enjoy picking apart a piece of media in your head to see how it fits together then this is kind of a negligible complaint.

There are a LOT of aliens, almost all of them can probably be read as problematic if you're into that, and the whole series is built around a model of galactic society that, looking back, kinda reeks of infantilizing paternalism, and the books KNOW this. Half of all the action is politicking and subterfuge, and the other half is politicking and backstabbing. Also, whie it has been a Long Time since I read them, I remember the final book (Heaven's Reach) was kind of a fucking mind bender towards the end and I had to stop and marinate a couple times.

If you want a book to dump a dozen deeply compelling questions directly into your brain, it's great! Just be aware that it was written for people who enjoy giving their brain a workout.

If you want something that is a light, fun read, then these books are probably not it. For that i reccomend pretty much anything in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.

[paullovescomics]

Books, comics, and audiobooks read in the first half of 2025; part 3 of 9 Mickey7, by Edward Ashton Spill the Jackpot, by Earle Stanley Gardner (as A.A. Fair) Harbinger (Star Trek Vanguard series), by David Mack The Red King (Star Trek Titan series), by Michael A. Martin Startide Rising, by David Brin Synthetic Sea, by Franklyn S. Newton Translation State, by Ann Leckie

[tomoleary]

Frank Kelly Freas “Startide Rising” by David Brin (1993) Source

[wanderingline]

Get to know you better game! answer the questions and tag 9 people you want to get to know better

Tagged by @tragediegh (hi! ^^)

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Tagging @izuchannisfan @metacarpus @ninjakk and @baiwu-jinji (9 people is a lot) but don't feel pressured :)



[balaenabooks]

I've finally joined the unofficial Books and Socks Club. :)

[dolphin-punk]

x

[xeffros-tritoh]

I'm reading this book called "Startide Rising" by David Brin. It's an amazing book! I HIGHLY recommend it! The premise is humans uplift dolphins and chimpanzees, hightening their intelligence and giving them the ability to speak. We join the galactic society. This book centers around a dolphin-ran spaceship and... They keep reminding me of a certain race of grays. I've been writing down all the parallels I spot. Also they have a color-based caste system So yeah this has been my day.