
> Transcriber's Note:
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
Four of the universe's most brilliant minds—two men and two women—find themselves stranded aboard an experimental starship billions of parsecs from home. As they map the alien constellations in an attempt to chart a way back to Earth, their intellects clash as fiercely as the strange worlds they encounter. The story blends high‑stakes navigation with the messier business of love, rivalry, and pride, creating a tension that feels as expansive as the cosmos itself.
The crew’s interactions sparkle with razor‑sharp humor and telepathic wit. A flamboyantly dressed captain fuses academic titles with swagger, while a blunt, muscle‑bound officer meets her in a constant battle of sarcasm and bravado. Political maneuvering adds another layer, as a scheming chancellor and his henchman threaten to turn the ship into junk. Listeners are drawn into a vivid, fast‑moving adventure where science, personality, and off‑beat banter collide.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (381K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, V. L. Simpson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2007-03-25
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1890–1965
A pioneering force in early science fiction, he helped define the grand, galaxy-spanning adventure later known as space opera. His Skylark and Lensman stories set the pattern for generations of writers who dreamed bigger and bolder.
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