The mote in god's eye and whatever the title of that second book was, written by.... Larry Niven I believe. Quite a nice story around aliens with 3 arms.

I guess this would be a direct reference to the beginning of the second book, where people use 3 sided logic in their arguments, i.e. on the one hand, on the other hand, on the third hand. If I say any more I would keep typing and start giving the whole story away.

hrmm, not on the third hand, but on the gripping hand. It has been a while since I read it.