Late 80's read, civilization in a nutshell

[1shenandoah9]

I read this book in the late 80's, and it was essentially about a human spacecraft discovering life on an alien planet. The gist was that the alien species evolved to fast, that the humans were able to watch the evolution of this alien civilization progress from earliest microbial species, all the way to the zenith of their society. Right about the time they became aware of, and were able to communicate extraterrestrially with the humans, their civilization perished.

[Pennarin]

Sounds like Brian Aldiss' Helliconia trilogy.

[suciul]

I read this book in the late 80's, and it was essentially about a human spacecraft discovering life on an alien planet. The gist was that the alien species evolved to fast, that the humans were able to watch the evolution of this alien civilization progress from earliest microbial species, all the way to the zenith of their society. Right about the time they became aware of, and were able to communicate extraterrestrially with the humans, their civilization perished.

robert forward dragon egg (neutron star)

[1shenandoah9]

Thanks suciul, Dragon's Egg was the book. I appreciate your reply!

[suciul]

Thanks suciul, Dragon's Egg was the book. I appreciate your reply!

happy to help; greatly enjoyed that one at the time