Scary thought I had today....

[conuly]

In popular sci-fi, humans are often the driving force behind the universe. Monsters and supernatural beings that have destroyed hundreds of sentient species will realize that they're "rather attached to those strange humans". Humans will repeatedly conquer invincible foes, and triumph against insurmountable odds. Often, you see otherwise intelligent people reverting to saying "as the humans say" to express a concept instead of "as the bariaga say" or even using a term from their own culture. The Q put the Enterprise on trial for "humanity's crimes" even when many people on the ship weren't human - nobody else mattered.

In short, humans are the marysues of the universe.

Just kill me now.

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[mhari.livejournal.com]

There's also Cherryh's Faded Sun, where humans are more prominent than they are in Chanur but still definitely not the stars. Even the sympathetic aliens don't have much use for them. :)