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{{short description|1983 science fiction novel by David Brin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{infobox book | 
| name = Startide Rising 
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = StartideRising(1stEd).jpg
| caption = Cover of first edition (paperback)
| author = [[David Brin]]
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = United States
| language = English
| series = [[Uplift Universe]]
| genre = [[Science fiction]]
| publisher = [[Bantam Books]]
| release_date = 1983
| english_release_date =
| media_type = Print (Paperback & Hardback)
| pages = 462  (first edition, paperback)
| award         = [[Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel]] (1984)
| isbn = 0-553-23495-1
| isbn_note = (first edition, paperback)
| congress= CPB Box no. 2914 vol. 13
| oclc= 9865177
| preceded_by = [[Sundiver]]
| followed_by = [[The Uplift War]]
}}

'''''Startide Rising''''' is a 1983 science fiction novel by American writer [[David Brin]], the second book of six set in his [[Uplift Universe]] (preceded by ''[[Sundiver]]'' and followed by ''[[The Uplift War]]''). It earned both [[Hugo Award|Hugo]] and [[Nebula Award]]s for Best Novel in 1984. It was revised by the author in 1993 to correct errors and omissions from the original edition.

An early work by David Brin, it was extremely well reviewed when it was published, has remained popular, and served as the seed for three more novels which revolved around the crew of the Earthship ''[[Streaker (David Brin)|Streaker]]'' (the ''Uplift Storm Trilogy'').

Parts of ''Startide Rising'' were published as "The Tides of Kithrup" in the May 1981 issue of ''[[Analog Science Fiction and Fact|Analog]]''. ''The Tides of Kithrup'' was an early title of the novel; uncorrected proofs of the novel that still bear that title have become collector's items.

== Plot summary ==

In the year 2489 [[Common Era|C.E.]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.reocities.com/Area51/Corridor/8611/brin.htm |title=David Brin Uplift Timeline |access-date=2010-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626022211/http://reocities.com/area51/corridor/8611/brin.htm |archive-date=2010-06-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Terran [[starship|spaceship]] ''Streaker'' — crewed by 150 [[Biological uplift|uplifted]] dolphins, seven humans, and one uplifted chimpanzee — discovers a derelict fleet of {{gaps|50|000}} spaceships the size of small moons in a [[Star cluster|shallow cluster]]. They appear to belong to the Progenitors, the legendary "first race" that uplifted the other species. The [[captain's gig]] is sent to investigate but is destroyed along with one of the derelict craft — killing 10 crew members. ''Streaker'' manages to recover some [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] from the destroyed derelict and one well-preserved [[extraterrestrial life in popular culture|alien]] body. The crew of ''Streaker'' uses psi-cast to inform [[Earth]] of their discovery and to send a [[hologram]] of the alien.

When ''Streaker'' receives a reply, it is in code. Decrypted, it says only: “Go into hiding. Await orders. Do not reply.” Attempting to comply, ''Streaker'' is ambushed at the Morgran [[Hyperspace (science fiction)|transfer point]] and pursued by opposing fleets belonging to a number of extremist galactic clans and species (most or all of them devout of the quasi-religious "Alliances") —  'crusaders' seeking to claim the dead fleet for themselves for various religious reasons.

The novel begins about one month<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/albmont/brin_sr.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021082220/http://geocities.com/albmont/brin_sr.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2009|title=Startide Rising Timeline|website=geocities.com|access-date=Jun 20, 2020}}</ref> after the discovery in the cluster as ''Streaker'' arrives on the planet Kithrup, which has vast oceans, offering an ideal environment for the neodolphin crew to attempt to hide and repair their damaged ship. Almost immediately, the crusaders begin to arrive — dashing ''Streaker'''s hopes of hiding for very long, but some time remains for repairs when the armadas begin fighting each other for the right to capture ''Streaker''.

A Thennanin [[Battleship|dreadnought]] is damaged during the fighting and crashes into the ocean near ''Streaker'''s hiding place. The resultant [[tsunami]] strands several crew and causes several of the neo-dolphins to panic and revert to an instinctual, pre-uplifted mental state. Some of the stranded crew encounter pre-sentient natives (called Kiqui).

Meanwhile, on ''Streaker'', several crew members secretly plan a [[mutiny]] and defection while the officers plan to salvage parts from the Thennanin wreck. ''Streaker'' cannot be moved for fear of detection and because of the ongoing repairs, and so the salvage team uses undersea transportation to get to the wreck. The salvage team discovers the wreck's hull is mostly undamaged, and the Terrans form a plan to hide ''Streaker'' inside the Thennanin dreadnought hull and make their escape. As a bonus, several crew members salvage the Thennanin dreadnought's micro-branch of the galactic library for comparison with the ''Streaker'''s own copy, as Earth suspects their libraries have been sabotaged, with certain information redacted "for the greater good" of 'primitive' humans.

The mutinous crew, led by Takkata-Jim, sabotage equipment, leading to Captain Creideiki becoming brain damaged, although he later recovers somewhat. Before he can be caught, Takkata-Jim flees in a shuttle, but the shuttle has been sabotaged by the loyal crew, and he is sent into the middle of the battle over Kithrup with his radio disabled and his weapons set to fire when any ship approaches. Takkata-Jim unintentionally draws off the two largest remaining fleets.

In the confusion, ''Streaker'' almost escapes without incident hidden in the Thennanin hull, but is confronted by several ships belonging to the Brothers of the Night (Brethren). ''Streaker'' is saved when six Thennanin ships, saving one of their "own", fight off the Brethren warriors. ''Streaker'' then flees to the transfer point, but before fleeing, sends a mocking transmission to the crusading armadas.

The dolphins in the novel speak three languages: Primal, Trinary and Anglic. Primal and Trinary are represented as [[haiku]]-esque poems (two of the human characters quote [[Yosa Buson]]), while Anglic is a hypothetical English-derivative (not to be confused with the actual [[Anglic languages|Anglic]] family of languages containing [[English language|modern English]], its ancestors, and its close relatives like [[Scots language|Scots]]), rendered for the reader as standard English.

The book shifts point of view frequently from character to character, ranging from humans, to dolphins, to a number of the alien races that are trying to destroy, capture, or help the ''Streaker''. This allows the reader to get some idea of how the crew of the ''Streaker'' fits within the larger context of Galactic affairs. All of the alien races described in this book, and numerous others, are further described and illustrated in the book ''Contacting Aliens: An Illustrated Guide to David Brin's Uplift Universe''.

== Film version ==

In 1998 a screenplay, written by Trevor Sands and based on the book, was in development at Mace Neufeld Productions.<ref>{{cite news |first=CHRIS |last=PETRIKIN |title= Neufeld buys 'Uplift Series'|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/neufeld-buys-uplift-series-1117481566/|work= Variety |date= 1998-10-19|access-date=2015-08-30 }}</ref> However, according to Trevor Sands, the option expired and the screenplay has been tabled.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

== Translations ==

* [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]: ''"{{lang|bg|Звездна вълна се надига}}"'' ("A star wave is rising"), 1994.
*  [[Chinese language|Chinese]]: ''星潮汹涌'', 1998; ''星潮闪电'', 2001
* [[Danish language|Danish]]: ''"{{lang|da|Stjerneflod}}"'' ("Star Tide"), 1988.
* [[Dutch language|Dutch]]: ''"{{lang|nl|Strijd tussen de sterren}}"'' ("Battle between the stars"), 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catawiki.nl/catalogus/boeken/series-held-in/uplift-saga-de/207017-strijd-tussen-de-sterren|title=Brin, David - Strijd tussen de sterren - boeken - Catawiki|website=www.catawiki.nl|access-date=Jun 20, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Finnish language|Finnish]]: ''"{{lang|fi|Tähtisumu täyttyy}}"'' ("Nebula fills up"), 1987.
*  [[French language|French]]: ''"{{lang|fr|Marée stellaire}}"'' ("Stellar tide"), 1998, 2001.
*  [[German language|German]]: ''"{{lang|de|Sternenflut}}"'' ("Star Tide"), 1985, 1993, 2000.
*  [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: ''"{{lang|he|גאות הכוכב}}"'' ("Star Tide"), 1999
*  [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]: ''"{{lang|hu|Csillagdagály}}"'' ("Star Tide"), 1996
*  [[Italian language|Italian]]: ''"{{lang|it|Le maree di Kithrup}}"'' ("The Tides of Kithrup"), 1985.
*  [[Korean language|Korean]]: ''"{{lang|ko|떠오르는 행성}}"'' ("The Rising Planet"), 1992.
*  [[Polish language|Polish]]: ''"{{lang|pl|Gwiezdny przypływ}}"'' ("Star Tide"), 1997.
*  [[Romanian language|Romanian]]: ''"{{lang|ro|Maree stelară}}"'' ("Stellar tide"), 2014.
*  [[Russian language|Russian]]: ''"{{lang|ru|Звёздный прилив}}"'' ("Star Tide"), 1995, 1998, 2002.
*  [[Serbian language|Serbian]]: ''"{{lang|sr|Подизање звездане плиме}}"'' ("Startide Rising"), 1988.
*  [[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''"{{lang|es|Marea estelar}}"'' ("Star Tide"), 1986.
*  [[Swedish language|Swedish]]: ''"{{lang|sv|Vid stjärnhavets strand}}"'' ("On the beach of the sea of stars"), 1990.

== See also ==
* {{Annotated link|Akeakamai}} – the real-life dolphin from [[Louis Herman|Louis Herman's]] [[animal language]] research, after whom a neo-dolphin member of the ''Streaker''{{'}}s crew is named.
* {{Annotated link|Cetacean intelligence}}
* [[List of underwater science fiction works]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.worldswithoutend.com/novel.asp?ID=31 Startide Rising] at Worlds Without End

{{uplift-series}}
{{Hugo Award Best Novel 1981–1990}}
{{Locus Award Best SF Novel}}
{{Nebula Award Best Novel}}

[[Category:1983 American novels]]
[[Category:1983 science fiction novels]]
[[Category:Hugo Award for Best Novel–winning works]]
[[Category:Novels by David Brin]]
[[Category:Space opera novels]]
[[Category:Nebula Award for Best Novel–winning works]]
[[Category:Novels set in the 25th century]]
[[Category:Underwater novels]]
[[Category:Fiction about dolphins]]
[[Category:Bantam Books books]]
[[Category:Locus Award–winning works]]