Books like Incandescence by Greg Egan

The Amalgam stretches across almost the entire galaxy, uniting countless beings of diverse origins, some human or near-human, others wholly alien. The bright, hot core of the galaxy remains forbidden, home to the Aloof who have rejected contact for millennia. When Rakesh, an interstellar traveler, receives an invitation to enter their domain in search of a vanished race, he cannot refuse. Roi, a member of this lost civilization, finds himself in a world where labor dominates and history and science are scarce luxuries. Guided by Zak, a knowledgeable mentor, Roi begins to see possibilities. The looming threat to their strange world requires an unprecedented surge of scientific insight to avert disaster. Rakesh’s voyage spans light‑years and epochs, while Roi’s journey unfolds across a landscape of rapid learning and discovery.

First publish date: 2008