Starquake Author:Robert L. Forward Turns ago, the humans of Earth reached the neutron star Dragon's Egg, where they discovered a thriving savage race of intelligent cheela who lived a million times faster than humans. In the next few hours the cheela learned from them and soon surpassed them in knowledge. — Now the humans are about to leave... — Suddenly, a monstrous starquake dest... more »roys all except a few cheela on the surface and a group of cheela in orbit around Dragon's Egg, with no way now to return to the surface. The fate of cheela civilization rests with the tiny group below who must somehow survive, breed, and rebuild.
Finally the humans are faced with a dreadful choice; should they shrug their shoulders, return to Earth, and let this friendly alien race face extinction; or remain to offer necessary assistance ... and certainly die in the attempt!« less