The Starfarers Series Books 3–4: Metaphase * Nautilus

The final two books in the Starfarers series by Vonda N. McIntyre. Metaphase: The crew of the Starfarer, cast out from interstellar civilization, encounters an extraterrestrial with a poor reputation: the squidmoth. Contact specialist J.D. Sauvage risks her life to befriend the creature, relying on instinct rather than warnings from the alien human. Through this connection, Sauvage overcomes her fears and prejudices and receives a gift that prevents her from being abandoned in an empty star system while also redeeming the Starfarer and its mission. Nautilus: Following their encounter with the squidmoth and with their ecosystem now immunized by the alien human, the Starfarer crew makes contact with representatives from the Four Worlds. Sauvage meets furry creatures as large as lions and as lithe as otters, who have been waiting for humans. They seek something from the Starfarer team: Earth's advantage in space civilization—a new, faster algorithm for interstellar navigation.