The mote in God's eye

Summary: In the year 3016, the Second Empire of Man spans hundreds of star systems, thanks to the faster-than-light Alderson Drive. No other intelligent beings have ever been encountered, until a light-sail probe enters a human system carrying a dead alien. The probe is traced to the Mote, an isolated star in a thick dust cloud, and an expedition is dispatched. In the Mote, the humans find an ancient civilization - at least one million years old - that has always been bottled up in their cloistered solar system for lack of a star drive. The Moties are welcoming and kind, yet rather evasive about certain aspects of their society. It seems the Moties have a dark problem, one they've been unable to solve in over a million years. The multi-limbed Moties have technology akin to ours, yet their world is frightening and dangerous. Then, suddenly and horribly, their emissaries are killed and a danger signal has been sent out. Now humans are thrown into a headlong race to find the aliens' homeworld and convince them that we come in peace.

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