Oolite Bulletins

The five novels were later published in an omnibus edition, the title of which contains the name of a prominent star, for which the first galactic empire is named. The third novel covers the same events as the first, but from the perspective of one of the other galactic empires, also named for a prominent star.

You're making it sound annoyingly familiar!

It's Shikasta, the first novel in Doris Lessing's Canopus in Argos series ... I can't remember the full title though!

Yes, it's Re:Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta by Doris Lessing.
Over to you, Disembodied.

And turns out not to be the series I was thinking of!

DaddyHoggy wrote:

And turns out not to be the series I was thinking of!

Which was...?

Right ... I was going to ask, "What unusual gift did Ray Bradbury receive for his 90th birthday" ... but I should warn people that said gift, while very funny (and apparently much enjoyed by the author), um, transgresses certain linguistic social norms, and is not likely to enhance your standing in either a work or family setting. Bluntly it contains many vulgar words and straight single-entrendres. But what you choose to do is between you and Google.

Anyway, my actual question. Name the novel and author:

Set on an ocean world without any land surface at all, a human population – the survivors of a crashed spaceship – form an uneasy relationship with an indigenous species; specifically, with one powerful member of that species. Several generations later, though, at least some of the human descendants start to wonder if the relationship has gone too far.

Thanks Disembodied... that is really, really funny.

El Viejo wrote:

DaddyHoggy wrote:

And turns out not to be the series I was thinking of!

Which was...?

I don't know - but, having researched the correct answer - I know that's not what I was thinking of!

OK, first clue: it's by a Hugo-award winning author ... one mentioned in this thread at least once already (not that that narrows it down very much!).

Still no guesses? OK, another clue: the indigenous species may or may not be intelligent. The human population don't actually know if they've made a deal with a rational, conscious being, or have just set themselves up in a symbiotic relationship with a (very large) animal.

It sounds like something I've read by Alastair Reynolds... "Turquoise Days"?

Nope ... although there is a slight similarity in the names of the stories!

OK, next clue: it's a three-word title, including a primary colour ...

Dang, feeling vaguely familiar...