What the title says, I’m tired of the trope where humans are the least advanced in the universe.
I’d like to read something different where we’re the more advanced ones (not necessarily the most advanced). As an example I quite enjoyed the Ender’s Game sequels and the angle of us being the more advanced ones was quite interesting.
Do you have any recommendations?
Stagate comes to mind (we’re not the LEST advanced, at least) but that’s not a book.
Among other things, I find Statgate an interesting exploration of how we might advance by finding and co-opting others’ technology (or being given it in some cases ie the Asgard) rather than developing it organically ourselves.
But one area that’s not explored, sadly, is how that technology would change earth geopolitics. The US Air Force gets to the point of having actual starships but everything is directed outward toward alien enemies. In reality this kind of edge would change our world on the ground too.
If we gain technology through others, we will make big leaps very quickly and that has the potential to be extremely disruptive. I wish they had explored this more. Perhaps a case where earth terrorists get hold of some Asgard tech, or a government hostile to the US makes an alliance with the Ori or something.