Starquake
Robert Forward1985

In A.D. 2050, the people of Earth reached the neutron star Dragon's Egg, where they discovered a savage race called the cheela, who lived a million times faster than humans. In the next few hours, the cheela learned from their visitors, and soon surpassed them in knowledge.

Now the humans are about to leave...

Suddlenly, a monstrous starquake destroys all but a few cheela.

The humans are faced with a dreadful choice: return to Earth, and let this friendly alien race face extinction; or remain to help... and certainly die in the attempt!

Titre original : Starquake (1985)