Any sci-fi with aliens where humans are not the less advanced race?
What the title says, I'm tired of the trope where humans are the least advanced in the universe.
I'd like to read something different where we're the more advanced ones (not necessarily the most advanced). As an example I quite enjoyed the Ender's Game sequels and the angle of us being the more advanced ones was quite interesting.
Iain M Banks Culture books centre around The Culture a human civ (but not earth humans) who are one of the most advanced civs in a milky way with tens of thousands of sentient races at various level of development.
Reading some of your other replies I think you will enjoy, The Culture. Banks created a galaxy that really feels lived in and the interactions of the civs at various tech levels works really well.
The Algebraist is an excellent standalone Banks book.
Humans finally make it out into the galactic community only to find humans are already there and that the galaxy is crawling with life of incredibly diverse kinds literally everywhere.