This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
Baen Publishing Enterprises 260 Fifth Avenue New York, N.Y. 10001
First Baen printing, July 1987
Cover art by Michael Whelan
Printed in the United States of America
Distributed by SIMON & SCHUSTER 1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, N.Y. 10020
This is a comparatively old work of mine, and I would have done it rather differently nowadays.
Nevertheless, with due allowance for the advantages of experience and hindsight, it still seems to me to be among my better stories. I hope you will enjoy it.
The opportunity to make a few emendations was irresistible. First, technical details which are now obsolete have been corrected as much as possible. This is doubtless of concern only to those who have a special interest in physics; still, one likes to get things right. (Of course, what is
“right” in science has a way of transforming itself totally every decade or two.) Second, I’ve tried to smooth out awkward phrasings here and there. Both these sets of changes are minor and do not affect the narrative in any way.
