A wonderful explanation of the European concept of beneficial Colonialism. The fuzzies are lovely, and very, very, fun. They seek protection from a group of humans who loooove them! I wonder if the Fuzzies exude a hormone to influence humans in that direction. At any rate, the fuzzies are finally protected very well, and are embarked on their future by helpful humans, who do make a lot of money off the products of their planet. It is quite fun. I first read "Little Fuzzy" in 1962. ( )

This book club edition hardcover has Fuzzy Sapiens called The Other Human Race. I also have the mm pb of [b:Fuzzies and Other People|1440152|Fuzzies and Other People|H. Beam Piper|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267063580s/1440152.jpg|1430759] and I'd like to keep them together through swap or bookcrossing.

They're a lot more fun than I thought they'd be, and a lot smarter, too. I read modern popular psychology texts and Piper's discussion of intuition and hunches is spot-on. Piper also predicted Skype.

I love his definition of sapience, and wish all those people trying to make chimps and gorillas use language would read Piper. In part, The sapient being can imagine... and he can work and plan toward making it a part of reality."

I get the sense Piper understands intrigue and judicial procedure, too - though those were my least favorite aspects they did read as authentic." ( )

The Fuzzy Papers is a set of two of H. Beam Piper's books, Little Fuzzy and Fuzzy Sapiens. With a couple nice storylines, Piper explores how difficult it might be in proving an alien creature is sapient. In this case, it is the fuzzy, a two foot tall Wookie with the playful mien of a teddy bear. Both books are very readable from the efforts to get fuzzies recognized as sapient to the efforts to help them and keep them out of the hands of the local mob. Not heavy by any means, but a pleasant pair of stories with some thoughtful explorations. Recognized. ( )

This is an omnibus edition of the first two Fuzzy books that feature among the most memorable aliens in science fiction. Mind you, they're so cute as to induce sugar shock. Creatures "two feet tall, with wide-eyed... face... covered with soft golden fur," playful, sane, sweet and emotionally and intellectually about ten years old. The first book dealt with some sophisticated concepts. The "Fuzzies" are on a planet colonized by humans and largely owned and ruled by a corporation under a charter only valid if there are no sapient indigenous life forms. So when the Fuzzies first show up, it soon becomes a very serious matter indeed whether they're just cute animals--or people. The second novel develops some issues not resolved in the first one, and is still entertaining, although perhaps not as fresh in conception. I did like how in the second novel things were less black and white. Piper's not an elegant prose stylist. There are point-of-view jumps, and flaky section breaks (might be more an issue of bad editing than writing) and at times clumsy phrasing. But Piper's a good storyteller nevertheless and presents appealing characters--human and non-human alike. It's an good read. ( )

Cuteness overload!

Little Fuzzy

As soon as he put on the light, something inside the shower stall said, "Yeeeek!" in a startled voice.
He turned quickly to see two wide eyes staring up at him out of a ball of golden fur. Whatever it was, it had a round head and big ears and a vaguely humanoid face with a little snub nose. It was sitting on its haunches, and in that position it was about a foot high.

The planet Zarathustra is classified as having no native sentient inhabitants, and the the company that runs the planet will lose its charter if native sentient beings are discovered there. So when climate change brings the Fuzzies out of their secluded forests and into the lands settled by man, the Zarathustra Company will do anything in its power (no matter how illegal) to prevent the Fuzzies from being classified as sapient.

Fuzzy Sapiens

Little Fuzzy got out his pipe, the new one Pappy Jack had brought out from the BIg House Place, and stuffed it with tobacco, and got out the little fire-maker. Some of the Fuzzies around him, who had just come in from the woods, were frightened. they were not used to fire; when fire happened in the woods, it was bad. That was wild fire, though. The Big Ones had tamed fire, and if a person was careful not to touch it or let it get loose, fire was nothing to be afraid of.

Although the Fuzzies' sapience has been legally established and the Charterless Zarathustra Company no longer runs the planet, there is danger that the planetary government may fall into unsympathetic hands once martial law is replaced by a civilian government. And there is another equally important problem that the Fuzzies' supporters must face. Why is the birth rate so low and so many Fuzzy babies stillborn? ( )