A different take on first contact, where we're the intergalactic aliens and they're the planet bound types. Being a Niven and Pournelle it's an easy read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Contains politics, a little philosophy and economics, and some interesting ideas - what happens to a planet-bound species that canna help but breed? Regular back-to-the-stone-age wars, that's what. Hiding this from the aliens (i.e. people) is a big-old job, but they're well evolved to it. Turns out we have a lot in common, then.
The story is written from both perspectives interleaved (unlike a Banks, one's not backwards or upside down or anything - they are concurrent) and hangs together well despite relying on a couple of SF cliches. May have to look for the sequel.
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