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Fuzzy Sapiens #1-3
The Complete Fuzzy
More than three decades ago, H. Beam Piper's bestselling science fiction novel Little Fuzzy captivated readers everywhere. Now, all three of Piper's delightful books are available for the first time in one volume: Little Fuzzy, Fuzzy Sapiens and Fuzzies And Other People.
454 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1998
6 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
H. Beam Piper
304 books244 followersHenry Beam Piper was an American science fiction author. He wrote many short stories and several novels. He is best known for his extensive Terro-Human Future History series of stories and a shorter series of "Paratime" alternate history tales.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 18, 2019
Yet another book that caught my attention solely based on title and cover art, and I happened to luck out on this one. It’s quite possibly the cutest book I’ve ever read. The only reason that I haven’t given it a 5 star rating, is because it seemed to plod along a bit at times. But, the storyline is a truly great concept, and the sci-fi aspect, as written in the early 60’s was surprisingly good. The Fuzzies themselves are impossibly cute and entirely endearing little creatures. I about died laughing towards the end of the third book when Little Fuzzy started using, but mispronouncing, human expletives. “Sunnabish!” and “Jeeze-krise go-hell goddamn sunnabish!”
March 15, 2023
I re-read Little Fuzzy and the others every five or ten years, love them so much! Great SciFi doesn't have to be dire and dismal. :)
January 22, 2011
This was such a fun read. I fell in love with the Fuzzies straight away. I enjoyed that this had three of the books about the fuzzies in it.
If you enjoy a read that is fun, with a small touch of redemption and sci-fi, pick this up. You won't be sorry.
If you enjoy a read that is fun, with a small touch of redemption and sci-fi, pick this up. You won't be sorry.
April 15, 2022
In 1962, H. Beam Piper wrote "Little Fuzzy", about an extraterrestrial critter about 2 feet tall and covered with hair. He seemed extremely intelligent, but could he actually be sapient? If so, that would cause extreme complications for the Company in charge of the planet.
In 1964, Mr. Piper wrote "Fuzzy Sapiens" (which kinda spoils the mystery of the above paragraph), in which the humans try to organize the government (including a constitution and elected legislature) for a race of sapient creatures who are as trusting and mentally developed as the average human 12-year-old. They also find out that only about 1 in 10 pregnancies results in a viable Fuzzy child - a virtual death sentence for the race.
In 1968, after Mr. Piper's death, a third novel, "Fuzzies and Other People" was discovered and published. The humans had learned how to increase the Fuzzy birthrate (again, sorry for the spoiler), but now they have to deal with the evilest creatures in the galaxy! A political process (the election of delegates to the Constitutional Convention {no Fuzzies need apply]) spawns politicians!
Simultaneously, we gain insight into the workings of a Fuzzy clan that has never had contact with humans.
This omnibus edition was published in 1998, but I only learned of it and the third novel this year.
Since I also own a paperback edition of "Little Fuzzy" ( (c) 1962, but I make no claims to it being a first edition), I will review that separately and spoiler-free.
In 1964, Mr. Piper wrote "Fuzzy Sapiens" (which kinda spoils the mystery of the above paragraph), in which the humans try to organize the government (including a constitution and elected legislature) for a race of sapient creatures who are as trusting and mentally developed as the average human 12-year-old. They also find out that only about 1 in 10 pregnancies results in a viable Fuzzy child - a virtual death sentence for the race.
In 1968, after Mr. Piper's death, a third novel, "Fuzzies and Other People" was discovered and published. The humans had learned how to increase the Fuzzy birthrate (again, sorry for the spoiler), but now they have to deal with the evilest creatures in the galaxy! A political process (the election of delegates to the Constitutional Convention {no Fuzzies need apply]) spawns politicians!
Simultaneously, we gain insight into the workings of a Fuzzy clan that has never had contact with humans.
This omnibus edition was published in 1998, but I only learned of it and the third novel this year.
Since I also own a paperback edition of "Little Fuzzy" ( (c) 1962, but I make no claims to it being a first edition), I will review that separately and spoiler-free.
October 4, 2020
I just recently bought this version of the Little Fuzzy collection - Complete Fuzzy. I read the original Little Fuzzy story when I was a teenager, and I fell in love with it. Then I read Fuzzy Sapiens, and it was one of the best stories I have ever read! I absolutely love this series! It's creative, imaginative, heart-warming, and has you rooting for these little creatures you never even knew you needed in your life. Now, I've read them all over again, and still love them every bit as much as the first time around.
December 19, 2023
Still holds up after 60 years (and who knows how many rereads)! Nice to have all three books in a single volume.
I very much enjoy every trip to the world of Zarathustra and its human and fuzzy people. Piper belongs on every shelf that includes Asimov, Heinlein and Herbert.
Some may not enjoy the constant smoking and diminished role of women. Just put it down to when it was written and enjoy the exploration of the adjustments any society needs to make when a whole new species is introduced.
I very much enjoy every trip to the world of Zarathustra and its human and fuzzy people. Piper belongs on every shelf that includes Asimov, Heinlein and Herbert.
Some may not enjoy the constant smoking and diminished role of women. Just put it down to when it was written and enjoy the exploration of the adjustments any society needs to make when a whole new species is introduced.
September 9, 2023
Given that it's the job of an author to emotionally manipulate the reader ... creating a race of 2' tall aliens who look like teddy bears, speak like 3 year olds, and only want to be loved by humans ... you can practically see the strings, you know?
Still, even I could not be so curmudgeonly as to give the Fuzzy series a bad review.
Manipulate away, Mr Piper. I think most folks will enjoy these books.
Still, even I could not be so curmudgeonly as to give the Fuzzy series a bad review.
Manipulate away, Mr Piper. I think most folks will enjoy these books.
May 7, 2021
Since these three "novels" are so short, I am just claiming this as one book. On book in which no one has ever heard of Star Trek's Prime Directive! Along with one of the MC's, I, too, wondered what would become of this race of aliens that was learning everything the humans would teach them! They were like Ewoks - maybe this is where the idea for them came from.
March 23, 2023
Little Fuzzy [1962]: 2023.03.23: the last half or third of this book punched me repeatedly in the face in the most pleasant possible way.
Fuzzy Sapiens [1964]:
Fuzzies and Other People [posthumous]:
Fuzzy Sapiens [1964]:
Fuzzies and Other People [posthumous]:
Want to read
July 11, 2023Finished book one. It was fun enough, but no surprises and I'm not rushing to read the other two in the series. Maybe someday.
June 23, 2025
4.75 Stars! Loved this trilogy! Especially books 1 & 3. 2 was good too just not quite as great. They’re really fun quick reads and overall positive too. Enjoy!
December 16, 2015
With the permission of the H. Beam Piper estate, John Scalzi was able to re-write the first novel of Fuzzy trilogy, "Little Fuzzy". The original trilogy is also available under the title "The Complete Fuzzy". All four works are focused on humans encountering a previous unknown intelligent species on a world undergoing extensive exploitation by a corporation.
Both "Little Fuzzy" and "Fuzzy Nation" are focused on the nature of capitalism and indigenous peoples, a topic still relevant to us today as it was in 1962 when H. Beam Piper wrote the original novel. But times have changed and so have corporate and human behavior. The original novel's lead is a rugged man of "The Bush" and has a South Africa-in-space favor to it. The re-write has a disbarred lawyer fighting the transstellar corporation - both with questionable motives in a Jurassic jungle. The two novels offer a spatially and temporal contrast between the Fordist and post=Fordist world, the colonial and the Late Capitalist business model, and the Modernist versus Postmodernist human. Central to all the novels is the question of what makes us humans and sapient.
Piper's work gives us a look into our past perspectives while Scalzi questions our present nature. All the novels are dramatic and humorous science fiction.
Both "Little Fuzzy" and "Fuzzy Nation" are focused on the nature of capitalism and indigenous peoples, a topic still relevant to us today as it was in 1962 when H. Beam Piper wrote the original novel. But times have changed and so have corporate and human behavior. The original novel's lead is a rugged man of "The Bush" and has a South Africa-in-space favor to it. The re-write has a disbarred lawyer fighting the transstellar corporation - both with questionable motives in a Jurassic jungle. The two novels offer a spatially and temporal contrast between the Fordist and post=Fordist world, the colonial and the Late Capitalist business model, and the Modernist versus Postmodernist human. Central to all the novels is the question of what makes us humans and sapient.
Piper's work gives us a look into our past perspectives while Scalzi questions our present nature. All the novels are dramatic and humorous science fiction.
January 17, 2016
If I could give this book more than five stars, I would do so. It is heart-warming, intriguing, adorable, and fun. It also has something to teach, and if you can't take something away from what you're reading....well, I can't actually comprehend not being able to take something away from a read. Suffice it to say, this book has something to say, and has the best outlook on humanity, even my cynicism was put in its place with this read. Truly phenomenal. Read it. Then, read it to your children/pets/spouse. Then, read it to your grandchildren or simply stand on a corner and read it to the crowds.
March 6, 2008
Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I read these books during middle school, or perhaps it's because they're a really interesting glimpse of early 1960s culture applied to life on a distant colony planet of Earth...but it's mostly due to the fact that the books are fun and and interesting. They can be read as a critique of colonialism through a speculative-fiction lens, thought I didn't know that when I was 13.
May 19, 2010
An interesting books about discovering new sapient life on a planet humans are exploiting. What do the people in power do and what if the sapience is in question? This book explores these topics and more. This book contains all 3 Fuzzy novels by H. Beam Piper.
March 19, 2015
Reviewed book by book:
Little Fuzzy
Fuzzy Sapiens
Fuzzies and Other People
Little Fuzzy
Fuzzy Sapiens
Fuzzies and Other People
March 2, 2014
Little Fuzzy, Fuzzy Sapiens, and Fuzzies and Other People are brought together in a unique one-volume collection of the author's best-selling science-fiction series, first published more than three decades ago. Original.
December 18, 2017
A dated view of humans knowing what is best for an underdeveloped, (but lucky for them) cute species.
I prefer John Scalzi's updated, snarky take on this story with the fuzzys knowingly using their cuteness to manipulate the lumbering interlopers.
I prefer John Scalzi's updated, snarky take on this story with the fuzzys knowingly using their cuteness to manipulate the lumbering interlopers.
July 18, 2008
3.5; good wholesome classic sf
December 23, 2008
A fun read.
May 17, 2010
An intriguing blend of sci-fi, 19th century paternalism philosophy and legal thriller, this is a classic I am sorry to say I just learned about in the past month.
December 21, 2017
Several stories about the fuzzy intelligent creatures on a planet rich in minerals that industrialists want and are willing to exterminate a species to gain control. Includes a long lost manuscript.
August 14, 2011
a story of a alien race meeting a human man, how he finds their intellegence and acceptance appealing and how he protects them from other men
February 13, 2014
I really enjoyed the Fuzzy series. They were a very simple and enjoyable read that tied in some interesting legal concepts. H. Beam Piper is definitely an author that I'm going to read more of.
February 21, 2010
A way fun re-read. First read Little Fuzzy when I was in 8th grade; it's still a library treasure.
October 28, 2013
This was a cute book about little creatures from another planet!!!!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews