Little Fuzzy
by H. Beam Piper
Little Fuzzy is the name of a 1962 science fiction novel by H. Beam Piper. It was nominated for the 1963 Hugo Award for Best Novel. The story revolves around determining whether a small furry species discovered on the planet Zarathustra is sapient. Along the way a gentle kind of libertarianism that emphasizes sincerity and honesty is advocated.