More like Neanderthal Planet

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The Colors of SpaceNovel
Marion Zimmer Bradleystandalone novel1963
Space opera, adventurous in tone, about space exploration, set in space.
“The Lhari seem peaceful and friendly, but they go to some lengths to protect their monopoly on faster-than-light travel.”
from the catalogue
HeecheeSeries
series19 books1972
completed
Space opera, about space exploration, set in space.
“The Heechee are an advanced alien race that visited the Solar System hundreds of millennia ago and then mysteriously disappeared.”
from the catalogue
Start with Gateway →
Doorways in the SandNovel
Roger Zelaznystandalone novel1976
Mystery & detective, funny in tone.
“Zelazny wrote the whole story in one draft, with no rewrites, and it subsequently became one of his five favorites among his own work.”
from the catalogue
The AvatarNovel
Poul Andersonstandalone novel1978
Space opera, about space exploration and political intrigue, set in space.
“With the aid of the political opposition, they escape and journey through the portal in search of knowledge, and perhaps even to meet those who created the portal system.”
from the catalogue
Known SpaceUniverse
universe142 books1964
Set in space.
“Give a clever species a few centuries and a working fusion drive, and it will fill the sky with problems.”
from the catalogue
Start with Ringworld →
includes Ringworld, Fleet of Worlds, Man-Kzin Wars
Shakespeare's PlanetNovel
Clifford D. Simakstandalone novel1976
First contact, reflective in tone, about robots.
“Woken after a thousand-year voyage meant to find humanity a new home, Carter Horton finds his ship stranded for good, tended by the disembodied minds of three volunteers who gave up their bodies to fly it.”
from the catalogue