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Old 12-05-2011, 11:50 AM   #1
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Looking for new-to-me scifi/fantasy with compelling non-human characters
Hey gang it's been a while since I came here asking for recommendations, but I'm back. I've been reading like crazy lately and need some suggestions for something new.

I'm interested in scifi/fantasy novels/series with compelling non-human characters mixed in with humans. When done right I really enjoy the interactions between humans and "others". The "others" bring a nice change of perspective while still being understandable once you see the way they think. So I definitely want strong characterization, preferably with an intriguing overall plot, but then don't we all?

SciFi example:
A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge - great novel, great mix of sentient beings.

Fantasy examples:
The Farseer Trilogy and sequels by Robin Hobb - loved the characters here, particularly the interaction between Fitz and Nighteyes.
Pern Series by Anne McCaffrey - Intelligent, caring dragons bonded to humans, but as more than just a plot device.

My brain hasn't engaged very well this morning so I'm coming up short on examples, but hopefully you get the idea. What do you suggest?

Thanks everyone!
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Old 12-05-2011, 01:57 PM   #2
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Cool Looking for new-to-me scifi/fantasy with compelling non-human characters
The Chanur novels by C.J. Cherryh.
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Old 12-05-2011, 03:09 PM   #3
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The Bug Wars by Robert Asprin. It follows a Reptile Protagonist during a war with an Insectoid Civilization.
Unfortunately it is still only available in Pbook.
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Old 12-05-2011, 04:28 PM   #4
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The Chanur novels by C.J. Cherryh.
Wow those are horrible covers, but I enjoyed the Morgaine books and always meant to read more *and* after reading up a bit on the Chanur novels they sound pretty interesting. I may have to try these next, thanks!

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The Bug Wars by Robert Asprin. It follows a Reptile Protagonist during a war with an Insectoid Civilization.
Unfortunately it is still only available in Pbook.
I know Robert Asprin not from his novels, but from the Graphic Novel version of Myth Adventures he did with Phil Foglio. Those were a lot of fun, but for some reason I almost never read that "type" of fiction. The very light-hearted, satirical, etc. I don't know why I don't since it's usually fun stuff. Just not what I'm after right now I guess.
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Old 12-05-2011, 08:43 PM   #5
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David Brin's Uplift Series?
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Old 12-05-2011, 09:26 PM   #6
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Larry Niven's Ringworld series
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Old 12-05-2011, 09:42 PM   #7
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David Brin's Uplift Series?
I tried to read the Uplift Series. The first book was not bad. But I had to stop in the second book. The dolphins just didn't work.
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Old 12-05-2011, 09:47 PM   #8
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The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik is very good. It features humans and intelligent dragons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temeraire_%28series%29
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Old 12-05-2011, 09:49 PM   #9
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I'm very fond of Peter Watts' work. It's recent and available free online.
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Old 12-05-2011, 10:54 PM   #10
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The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik is very good. It features humans and intelligent dragons.
Ah I forgot about this series! I read the first 3 books (I think it was 3.) Whichever the last one was that I read didn't hold me very well and I took a break from the series. I've never gotten back around to it.

How does the series hold up after the first 2 or 3 books?
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Old 12-06-2011, 04:28 AM   #11
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Progenitor series by Dan Worth
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Old 12-06-2011, 06:28 AM   #12
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I tried to read the Uplift Series. The first book was not bad. But I had to stop in the second book. The dolphins just didn't work.
That's dolphins for you, lazy creatures!
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Old 12-06-2011, 08:40 AM   #13
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The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin

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Old 12-06-2011, 12:08 PM   #14
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Harry Harrison's "West of Eden", "Winter In Eden", "Return To Eden" - The dinosaur extinction never happened, and intelligent reptiles (the Yilane) with a biotechnology-based civilization are competing with hunter-gatherer humans. The trilogy revolves around the relationship between Kerrick, a hunter, and Vainte, governor of a Yilane colony.

Not strictly sci-fi or fantasy: Robert Bakker ("The Dinosaur Herisies")" wrote a novel "Raptor Red" about life from the perspective of a female Utahraptor in the early Cretaceous. Unfortunately, this is not available in ebook, but it is available as a downloadable audiobook from here:
http://books.simonandschuster.com/bu...ther-retailers
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Old 12-06-2011, 04:06 PM   #15
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Ah I forgot about this series! I read the first 3 books (I think it was 3.) Whichever the last one was that I read didn't hold me very well and I took a break from the series. I've never gotten back around to it.

How does the series hold up after the first 2 or 3 books?
It holds up quite well. There is another book due out sometimes in 2012.
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