Help Finding a Title of an Older Sci-Fi Novel About a Rapidly Developing Alien Race (SPOILERS)

[Alicia]

Hi,

I remember briefly skimming through a really interesting sci-fi novel a number of years back, but I can't for the life of me seem to recall what it's called. I believe it was written by one of the more prominent sci-fi greats though.

The story focused on a non-humanoid alien race (I think they had multiple appendages and eyestalks and vaguely resembled elongated cocoa pods with legs) which either experienced time different from humans (at a rapidly accelerated pace) and/or had incredibly short lifespans, meaning countless generations came and went over the course of an average humans' life.

The aliens were introduced when they were still in a pretty primitive state (I think the equivalent of hunter-gather tribes or such), although they quickly progressed to something similar to the Bronze Age, while in the meantime a group of human observers in a space station/spaceship were quietly observing events.

Eventually, the aliens evolved to a point where they achieved interstellar travel, and even surpassed Earth's technology, and they then began venturing out into the stars while briefly interacting with the humans (IIRC, at one point in their distant past they worshipped the humans as gods) before moving on.

I believe there was also a sequel to this novel (I haven't read it though) where some sort of planetwide disaster/war resulted in the alien race regressing technologically back to the Stone Age, reverting to barbarism and feuding warlords in the process.

If anyone knows of the novel/s that I just described, I'd very much appreciate it. Thanks! :)

[Ine]

hmm this doesnt fit 100% but take a look at Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikowsky?

Even if that's not the book youre looking for, its got a similar set-up, maybe youll like it :)

Good luck finding what youre looking for!

[Margaret]

Is it Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward?

[Alicia]

Margaret wrote: "Is it Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward?"

Yes, that’s it!!! Thanks so much for your assistance, I’m going to pick it up on Kindle ASAP, along with Children of Time. Cheers! :)

[Dawn F]

Clicked the book without reading most of the description and this sounds right up my alley. Thanks! :)

[Trike]

Dang it, I knew it was Dragon’s Egg immediately. If only I hadn’t taken my dogs for a walk and cared for those sick orphans today, I coulda nailed it!

But seriously, Dragon’s Egg is AMAZING, one of the all-time great Hard Science Fiction novels. I reread just the prologue last year and ended up reading the entire book again. So, so good.

[Jacqueline]

The book was used as inspiration for an episode in the 6th season of Star Trek Voyager....Blink of an Eye.