More like The Crystal Ship

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Double StarNovel
Robert A. Heinleinstandalone novel1956
Adventurous in tone, about political intrigue, set in mars.
“Lorenzo Smythe, the excellent yet unemployed actor, meets Dak Broadbent in a bar.”
from the catalogue
The Sirens of TitanNovel
Kurt Vonnegut & Jr.standalone novel1959
Space opera, funny in tone, set in mars.
EmbassytownNovel
China Miévillestandalone novel2011
First contact, about space colonization and political intrigue, set in other star systems.
“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
HeecheeSeries
series19 books1972
completed
Space opera, about space exploration, set in 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 →
The Colors of SpaceNovel
Marion Zimmer Bradleystandalone novel1963
Space opera, adventurous in tone, about space exploration, set in other star systems.
“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
Set in other star systems.
“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, Man-Kzin Wars, Fleet of Worlds