More like Speaker for the Dead

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HeecheeSeries
series19 books1972
completed
Science fiction and space opera, about aliens and space exploration, set in far future and other star systems.
“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 →
CoDominiumUniverse
universe98 books1971
Military science fiction.
“The body of work runs along a few hard threads rather than one line.”
from the catalogue
Start with The Mote in God's Eye →
includes Moties, War World, Falkenberg's Legion, Laurie Jo Hansen
The Colors of SpaceNovel
Marion Zimmer Bradleystandalone novel1963
Adventurous in tone.
“The Lhari seem peaceful and friendly, but they go to some lengths to protect their monopoly on faster-than-light travel.”
from the catalogue
Known SpaceUniverse
universe142 books1964
Science fiction, about aliens, set in far future and 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
EmbassytownNovel
China Miévillestandalone novel2011
Challenging in tone, about space colonization and identity.
“In the far future, humans have colonized a distant planet, home to the enigmatic Ariekei, sentient beings famed for a language unique in the universe, one that only a few altered human ambassadors can speak.”
from the catalogue
The AvatarNovel
Poul Andersonstandalone novel1978
Adventurous in tone, about political intrigue.
“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