num_pages: 475
description: 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, not until a lightsail 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. This is the first collaboration between Niven and Pournelle, two masters of hard science fiction, and it combines Pournelle's interest in the military and sociology with Niven's talent for creating interesting, believable aliens. The novel meticulously examines every aspect of First Contact, from the Moties' biology, society and art, to the effects of the meeting on humanity's economics, politics and religions. And all the while suspense builds as we watch the humans struggle toward the truth.--Brooks Peck
language: English
title: The Mote in God's Eye
titlecomplete: The Mote in God's Eye
characters: Rod Blaine, Sandra Fowler, Ben Fowler, Kevin Renner, Horace Bury, David Hardy
genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Aliens, Fantasy, Space, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Classics, Science Fiction Fantasy
ratings_count: 68930
series: Moties
awards: awardedAt: 157795200000
name: Hugo Award
category: Best Novel, awardedAt: 157795200000
name: Nebula Award
category: Novel, awardedAt: 157795200000
name: Locus Award
category: Best Novel
publisher: Simon & Schuster