The Forerunner Series

by Andre Norton

Forerunner ~ 1981;

On the planet Kuxortal, Simsa was found as an infant in the ancient Forerunner ruins and has always been different. Her skin is iridescent blue-black and she has telepathic bond with an alien pet, a batlike zorsal. When her mentor dies, she must eke out a poor existence until Thom, a star ranger, arrives from space to lead Simsa on a dangerous search for her origin into those ancient ruins. But the cavernous mazes are far from quiet and dead - and what Simsa discovers there will change her life, and perhaps galactic civilization itself, forever.

Forerunner: The Second Venture ~ 1985;

Captured by human criminals intent on discovering the Forerunner secrets contained within her, Simsa escapes with her per zorsal, but crash lands on another world touched by ancient Forerunner civilization. Now Simsa must escape death at alien hands while battling the spirit within her to seek to transform her into something utterly inhuman. But though the ancient Forerunners may have been technologically advanced beyond comprehension, they never reckoned with the courage and gritty determination of one young woman determined to keep her freedom and write her own destiny among the stars.

The Forerunner Factor ~ 2012;

Omnibus featuring Forerunner and Forerunner: The Second Venture

I came across a neat website one day while researching Andre stuff. It’s called skullis.com and the reason it is being mentioned here is that they produced a really nice carved head and titled it Forerunner:  From the Sea to the Stars and I think it just fits the story. ~ Lotsawatts