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Delphys Rising

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FOR MILLENNIA HUMANS HAVE DREAMED OF SPEAKING WITH DOLPHINS AND FAILED.
UNTIL NOW. UNTIL DELPHYS.

In 2008 a young genius conceived Delphys—an innovative dolphin communication project—while submerged in the warm, salt water of a sensory deprivation tank and dark introversion of a forced separation from the woman he loved.

Nearly ten years after that epiphany—and after years of focused research, design and construction on an isolated Pacific atoll—that genius has embraced his new identity and become Dr. Evan McMillon--finally leaving the past behind. He has even found love again.

Now his Delphys team is poised to boot up their powerful artificial intelligence, initiate the world’s first contact with dolphins and ultimately transform that conversation into something much more ambitious—a covert operation that will surprise the project’s military backers and the world.

But when Dr. McMillon loses control of that ground-breaking conversation, he discovers toxic tendrils from his past infiltrating the very core of Delphys and wrapped around his heart. He also learns of the product of one passionate memory that may be the key to regaining control and completing his ambitious plan to change the world.

322 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2019

14 people are currently reading
26 people want to read

About the author

Kip Koelsch

16 books30 followers
Award-winning author Kip Koelsch got his start writing “books” with crayons in Mrs. Cook’s second grade class in Leonardo, NJ. Koelsch's love of dolphins started early as well--nurtured by The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, National Geographic Magazine and the family's trips to the beach at Anna Maria Island, Florida.

In all of his writing, Koelsch draws on his "variety of life experiences"--from time as a collegiate rowing coach to a stint as an adjunct professor in Environmental Studies and from adventure racing in Borneo to dragging a dolphin carcass behind his kayak while a marine mammal stranding network volunteer.

An on-again, off-again freelance magazine writer, Koelsch currently blogs about writing, critical thinking, outdoor adventure sports, paddling and his work in progress. He is working hard on the sequel to Wendall's Lullaby while occasionally scribbling random notes for other future fiction ideas.

Koelsch has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Media from Rutgers University in NJ and a Master’s Degree in Humanities and American Studies from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. In the past he has taught policy and culture-oriented Environmental Studies courses at Eckerd College, Ringling College of Art and Design, and the University of South Florida.

Currently, Koelsch resides in Dunedin, FL, with his wife and three cats.

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Cabiria Aquarius.
473 reviews34 followers
November 19, 2019
Just as emotionally driven as the first. Delphys Rising is packed full of information about dolphins and other sea creatures. As well as an emotionally driven plot. Han believes his father is alive while everyone else ‘knows’ he’s dead. What lengths will he go to find him? What about his unique abilities he’s gotten due to his mother’s pregnancy routine?
My eyes teared up at a certain point but I wouldn’t let them fall as I was in public. Such a deep tale and you see so many different perspectives and you just hope that things come together the way you want to. The story is so well written. You should totally grab book 1: Wendall’s Lullaby then this one. So action packed and come on. Who doesn’t love dolphins?
Profile Image for T.S..
93 reviews
May 14, 2019
Delphys, an innovative dolphin communication project and brain-child of the genius Dr. Evan McMillon, features powerful artificial intelligence that is capable of assisting military’s covert operations by directly communicating with dolphins. Dr. McMillon who was forced to assume a new identity and leave his past behind (In Koelsch’s earlier book, Wendall’s Lullaby) to assure the continuity of the top secret Delphys mission finds his project is about to go in a shambles after certain villainous forces threaten to destroy it, and his past returns to haunt him.

Koelsch creates a believable dolphin world and clever descriptions of the dolphin communication centre in this well-researched thriller. An overload of technical details slow the pace a little, but the well-drawn suspense element keeps readers guessing right up to the satisfying finale.
Profile Image for Cheryl Lawson.
Author 8 books61 followers
April 13, 2020
This is a great book and really good follow-up to Wendall's Lullaby. The research shows and so does the authors deep thoughts on the topic of sentience and the evolution of communication with other species on our planet. The story builds well and the characters, by now quite familiar-feeling, develop the plot in ways that keep the pages turning. I found myself rooting for the dolphins and their human companions, especially when things were going wrong for them. I was satisfied with the story overall, although I prefer a more exciting ending (personal preference).
The optimism of the story left me feeling good when I finished reading.
I've enjoyed the books by this author and would recommend to anyone interested in speculative fiction which revolves around our current/modern world and what the future possibilities are.
Profile Image for Kerstin Vollbrecht.
175 reviews
April 30, 2019
This is the follow up story of Wendall's Lullaby, in which Adam, now called Evan McMillon, has created a scientific station in the Midway atoll in order to develop a technology that allows humans to communicate with dolphins, which is thought to bee used for military purposes. As things don't turn out the way they are supposed to be, Angela and Robin are made to join him in order to find a solution for the difficulties.
The story is full of surprises, the plot is very well developed and the characters, of which many we have also known from the first book, are well described, underlining the ordinal changes they have undergone I the 9 years that lie between both stories.
Profile Image for Jennifer Shepard.
844 reviews121 followers
October 25, 2020
This is the first book I read from this autor and let me tell you that I loved it! Such a good book with great characters that keeps you obsessed with every page since the first one. The ending of this book.. come on! I just didn´t expect it! Can´t wait for read other book from this great writer! Amazing job! definitely a must read!. 5/5 A fantastic story that has it all! This is such a smart book. It has an incredibly believable plot propped up by the authors considerable knowledge of marine biology, technology and government/military agencies. Great book. I really enjoyed reading it. I higlhy recommended it
1 review
March 12, 2019
This was a perfect continuation of Kip’s first novel in the series, Wendall’s Lullaby! It picked up smoothly where the last book left off and continues down the same “path”! I was captivated by this page turner and it was hard to pull myself away for “reality”! Thank you Kip for another splendid novel focused on the intellectual properties of dolphins, scientists, military intelligence, and of course a dabbling into surfski!
Profile Image for Ginger.
Author 105 books10 followers
October 21, 2019
A Fabulous sequel to Wendall's Lullaby!

Could the sequel be better than the first of a series? Some say no. This book by Kip Koelsch will prove them wrong. If Kip isn't on your must read author list, I highly recommend you change that.
Profile Image for Aurelia Pitchstone.
3 reviews1 follower
February 4, 2020
I enjoyed Delphys Rising.

It was a breath of fresh air from my usual reading which includes horror and classical literature. As I read the story, I got the feeling of a 90s triple-A title like Jurassic Park(but dolphins). While there were some tropey elements, they didn’t strike me as too bothersome. I appreciated the way chapters were laid out and the overall length of them. Even though this is technically a sequel to Wendall’s Lullaby, I didn’t feel stranded by not reading the first title. Kip’s experience with the marine side of things shines in this work.
Author 14 books12 followers
June 4, 2019
Delphys Rising by Kip Koelsch extrapolates from present-day research. An artificial intelligence called Plutarch serves as an intermediary between humans and dolphins, learning from humans and dolphins until it can translate what the dolphins say into English. What will dolphins have to say? How will humans respond?

The political and military threat posed by Plutarch and the dolphins is engaging. As you might guess from the title, dolphins are ascendant in this novel - and they are willing to use their newfound power. The ability to communicate allows them to reach world leaders and the public at large. It also gives them other tools, but I won't veer too far into spoiler territory. However, it also raises the  question of whether the dolphins themselves are in control of their own message. I won't give away too much of this plot arc either, but it drew upon familiar tropes of AI breaking free from human control.

As I read, however, I realized that Delphys Rising is a human story, first and foremost. The words and actions of the AI and the dolphins were secondary to a human drama of a father separated from his family. It tells us more about human social bonds than it does about dolphins; on those terms, it succeeds. I did wish, at times, that it let us deeper into the lives and minds of the dolphins themselves.
Profile Image for CinderBelle615.
123 reviews8 followers
December 27, 2019
Thanks so much Kip for the opportunity to read your book!!

Review:

Ok. So. If you haven't found out by now...

ADAM IS ALIVE.

It's a continuation of the first book Wendall's Lullaby.

This book had a nice balance of narration and dialogue with very cool conspiracies. I was emotionally invested in the characters (and dolphins 💙).

Oh. BEE HAS A SON. 💙💙💙

I was really invested in Hans' story and I think it was because of him we have insight for the first time of the dolphin's thoughts and the things they know (and about Adam.)

I really enjoyed the book and I recommend reading Wendall's Lullaby first AND to not wait long before reading this second part of the story.
19 reviews
May 11, 2021
Another flawless, five star novel. Loved that this novel referenced Delphy, Delphic Oracle, which my family is a huge fan of (Thank you Kip). Jasmine definitely acted different than she did in Wendell's Lullaby, which took me by surprise, but not in a bad way. LOVED the return of Bee, always enjoyed her in the first novel albeit her being an animal. Looked forward to the next novel, and it did not disappoint at all!! Five stars for you!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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