The propensity of Earthlings to get into trouble, and to learn thereby, was the reason my owners agreed to this mad venture – although no one expected such a chain of unusual calamities as befell this ship. Your talents were underrated.

On we go, decades (centuries?) after the events of Sundiver. We continue in this universe of uplift–where every species in the galaxy was ‘Uplifted’ by another, brought to a seat on the galactic stage. Except, perhaps, humanity. The other way around though, we do have humanity uplifting two species of our own: chimps and dolphins.

And therein lies Startide Rising. The first starship crewed and run primarily by uplifted dolphins. And if that wasn’t enough, on their very first flight out, they happen upon something that could upend the very history and structure of galactic civilization.

Overall, it’s a fascinating story.

It’s at once small in scope–taking place mostly on and around a single ship on a single planet–while at the same time, we get hints at the chaos being unleashed on a galactic scale.

It’s got a fascinating mix of alien points of view, primarily with the dolphins, but also with the uplifted chimp crew member, the humans and how they interact with the dolphins, and interludes from a number of (increasingly weird) galactic aliens.

Overall, we never quite get confirmed answers for what’s actually going on, but that’s okay. Plenty of theories. Some are probably even correct. But that’s not really the point; it’s all about the characters and the exploration of this new planet–very much in the style of 70s science fiction.

Now I’m just curious where in the world this series will go next!

You don’t have conversations with microprocessors. You tell them what to do, then helplessly watch the disaster when they take you literally.