Reclamation

Large book about larger space empires that felt small - only a few locations were visited. Aliens who felt very alien, but mostly humans. Psychic powers, exiles, politics, genetic manipulation, androids, slavery, and a hidden planet. Pick a few of these for an episode of Star Trek; this novel picks them all and feels crowded.

Reclamation is Sarah Zettel's first novel, and was nominated for the 1997 Philip K Dick award. It won the 1997 Locus First Novel award and is included on a list of the defining science fiction of the 90s. Summarizing the plot would take more characters than I have remaining, so I'll just finish with a rating - somewhere between "ok" and "good".