The Sword and Laser discussion

I'm looking for some good science fiction and/or space opera stories with aliens that aren't automatically evil or trying to destroy the human race or whatever.

I'm getting tired of the "humans are the center of the galaxy" trope that most sci fi books have. In fact, the only example I can think of that actually has numerous alien species and humans are just "another species" is Mass Effect (and possibly Farscape, but not many humans there).

Any other examples? Better yet, any other *good* examples that I would enjoy reading? Thanks.

Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge is the first one that comes to mind for me

If you can find A Call to Arms, the first book of Alan Dean Foster's Damned trilogy, I recommend it. It's one of the few sci-fi stories I can think of where humanity are the krogan of the galaxy.

I think the "Culture" novels of Ian Banks qualify, but it's a bit deceptive at first since a human'ish body type prevails, but they're mostly not set in Earth's future at all.

The Engines of Light trilogy by Ken MacLeod.

The best I can think of is the Chanur books (The Pride of Chanur, Chanur's Venture, The Kif Strike Back, Chanur's Homecoming, and Chanur's Legacy).

There is one human in most of the books and he doesn't say much and isn't the center of the story. Well he is the MacGuffin for much of the series, but he isn't the hero of the story. That is reserved for Charur and her crew.

There are several different alien races involved and some are good, some are bad, and some aren't clear.

I think David Brin's Uplift books are good choices. Starts with Sundiver. Also going old school E.E. "Doc" Smith bools have the space opera feel to the Nth degree. Some aliens are good some are bad. He has two series the Lensmen or Skylark books which are great but you have to be ready for the dated attitudes as he srote them in the 40's and 50's.

Skip wrote: "The best I can think of is the Chanur books (The Pride of Chanur, Chanur's Venture, The Kif Strike Back, Chanur's Homecoming, and Chanur's Legacy).

There is one human in most of the books and he d..."

Second!

Maybe not exactly what you're after but close would be The Gods Themselves.

James Alan Gardner's books have human protagonists, but they're almost always outnumbered by other species.

I'd start with Expendable and then Ascending.

The writing is a bit on the YA side, but they're wonderfully fun reads.

Kind of old school, but the StarBridge series would fit that description, starting with Starbridge. I remember reading them when I was younger. Humans are just one species among many and most of the books deal with diplomacy. Silent Dances was my favorite.
Looks like you can get them pretty cheap on the kindle now.

Old Man's War fits onto one of your two criteria. Humans are a minor race but most of the alien races are out to destroy them. Well, actually eat them because they are very tasty :)

Anne McCaffrey's Doona series, starting with 'Decision at Doona' http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61... might qualify? It starts off being about a human society, and then things change. Book 2 - 'Crisis on Doona' (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41...) is all about collaboration, and book 3 - 'Treaty at Doona' (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41...) is about how humans have to deal with a race which really has it more together than we do.

Skaw wrote: "Kind of old school, but the StarBridge series would fit that description, starting with Starbridge. I remember reading them when I was younger. Humans are just one species among many and most of th..."

Agree that Starbridge fits the bill but rather than paying the money to Amazon, do as Ann Crispin suggested and buy them directly from the publishers, http://www.ridanpublishing.com/starbr..., and saver yourself some cash. They allow you to buy in Amazon, Kindle or Nook formats (or epub by hitting 'Add to Cart'). Note that only the first five have been released so far.