The Mind Pool

This book is an older one, but was recommended and loaned to me by a friend when I asked for an example of good sci-fi writing. I found the story to be pretty engaging and it had several side stories that described a vision of the future I thought was decently believable. No magic dressed up as science, and I enjoyed the examination of what alien life might be like. It didn't get to crazy into details, but imagined several distinct life forms that weren't just humanoid things with antennae. I'm happy I read it.