Hrossa

Hrossa (sing. hross) are native to the planet Malacandra, which humans call Mars. They live within a network of canal beds (the handramit), where they hunt, fish, and gather.

Hrossa vaguely resemble otters, but stand on their hind legs and have hands comparable to those of humans. They have a primitive tool-using culture, but they understand the use of more advanced technology to some extent; they have chosen their existence because they enjoy it. Hrossa have an elaborate and poetic language with which they compose beautiful epics. They appear to have some difficulties with including an "h" sound before initial consonants, calling a visitor to their planet a "hman" ("man").

Hrossa sometimes fail to consider practical matters, as when they send a human visitor directly across a high plateau where the air is too thin for him. They themselves have little fear of death.