Forge of the Elders — L. Neil Smith

CAPITALIST MONSTERS IN OUTER SPACE!

Just when the 21st century thought it was safe to throw Marxism on the ash heap of history once and for all, the global economy collapsed, and the Total State turned out to be the comeback kid.

Of course, collectivization only made the worldwide depression worse. But then the People's Astronomers discovered an asteroid with valuable minerals that could rejuvenate the world economy. So three aged NASA shuttles were pulled out of mothballs and sent to the asteroid.

However, someone else was there first. And they weren't human, even if they were from a parallel Earth. The Elders were "nautiloids," like intelligent giant squids. Worst of all, they were CAPITALISTS!