The Mote in God's Eye

Set in the year 3017 A.D.

, the story follows the Second Interstellar Empire of man as it encounters an alien slower-than-light spacecraft from the direction of the Coalsack Nebula.

The novel delves into the intricacies of first contact, featuring a technologically advanced alien race known as the Moties, who are genetically engineered into various casts.

The humans and Moties engage in a complex game of diplomacy, with tensions between the scientific and military sides of the human expedition.

The book is praised for its detailed alien culture, complex characters, and thought-provoking exploration of inter-species relations and the ethical dilemmas that arise from them.