The Mote in God's Eye

The detailed portrayal of the Mote and their society felt so vivid and unique. I'm curious whether the author envisioned this from the start or developed it through the writing process.

There were some great world-building moments, but I felt the story slowed down before the climax. Was this intentional to build suspense, or did it evolve during editing?

The choices made by the characters often felt complex and morally gray. I'm interested in how others felt about the ethical questions raised.