Startide Rising
The Uplift Saga • Book 2
by David Brin
Narrated by George K. Wilson
Why Listen to This Audiobook?
A crew of uplifted dolphins crash-landed on an alien ocean world is either the most absurd premise in sci-fi or the most brilliant — Startide Rising makes you forget you ever doubted it.
- Great if you want: dense, idea-heavy space opera that rewards patient listeners
- Listening experience: cerebral and layered — builds slowly, pays off enormously
- Narration: Wilson handles the sprawling alien cast with clear, steady distinction
- Skip if: complex multi-faction politics without a map frustrates you
About This Audiobook
Captain Tom Orley and his crew aboard the dolphin-crewed starship Streaker have made a discovery that could reshape galactic civilization, but their triumph quickly turns to peril when they crash-land on the dangerous ocean world of Kithrup. In David Brin's award-winning space opera, humanity's uplifted dolphin allies must overcome their own internal conflicts while hostile alien fleets converge overhead, all seeking the ancient secrets hidden in Streaker's data banks. As political intrigue unfolds both underwater and in space, the small band of survivors faces impossible odds to protect knowledge that could unlock the greatest mystery in the galaxy.
George K. Wilson delivers a masterful performance that brings vivid life to Brin's complex universe of multiple species and competing civilizations. His nuanced vocal characterizations effectively distinguish between the human crew members and their dolphin colleagues, while his measured pacing allows listeners to fully absorb the intricate world-building and political machinations that drive the plot. Wilson's steady narration proves particularly well-suited to the novel's blend of hard science fiction concepts and aquatic adventure, making the seventeen-hour journey both engaging and accessible.
