Nor Crystal Tears

The book is a first contact novel, told from the viewpoint of the aliens. We follow Ryo, who is a bit of an oddball that never quite felt like he fit in with normal Thranx society. Ryo hears rumors that a new intelligent species (which turn out to be humans) was discovered and the book relays his adventures attempting first to meet the aliens.I appreciate that the author didn't try to force another 200 pages into the book just to make it longer. I'm interested to read some more of the Humanx Commonwealth novels in the future and some more Alan Dean Foster in general.