The Mote in God's Eye

By Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

Mercy and the Other

When humanity makes first contact with an alien species, every decision carries the weight of species survival. Niven and Pournelle's masterpiece isn't about laser battles—it's about the tension between justice and mercy when facing the truly alien. The Moties are fascinating, sympathetic, and potentially catastrophic. Do we show mercy to beings we don't fully understand? Do we risk human extinction for the sake of another species? Through military officers, a Catholic priest, and dedicated scientists, we explore prudence in war and what we owe to "the Other" in an uncertain universe.