The story in one page
Dane Thorson and the crew of the Solar Queen are just trying to make a profit as independent traders when a visit to the planet Sargol goes sideways. After mingling with the native Salariki, the crew returns to space only to be struck by a virulent, incapacitating illness that leaves the ship effectively unmanned. Only four crew members remain conscious, nursing the hope that their previous, nauseating participation in a local ritual provided them with immunity. As the ship navigates deep space, they must maintain vessel operations and outmaneuver bureaucratic interference, eventually touching down on a bizarre, overgrown world before finally securing a shaky freedom.
Who's who
- Dane Thorson
Apprentice cargo-master who finds himself piloting a ship of invalids.
- Jellico
Captain of the Solar Queen who manages to stay standing.
- Van Rycke
Cargo-master who eventually orchestrates an escape from official scrutiny.
- Salariki
Native inhabitants of Sargol who share a crucial, mysterious brew.
What it's really about
- Corporate survival
- Traders prioritize profit over standard safety precautions.
- Immunological chance
- Survival often hinges on dumb, biological luck.
Why it's memorable
- Dousing the entire crew in heavily scented, spicy paste for diplomatic meetings.
- A carnivorous, liver-red flower snatching flying creatures on a mysterious planet.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
The crew avoids legal fallout through corporate maneuvering and secures a mundane mail route. Van Rycke remains blissfully, and likely incorrectly, convinced that they are finally safe from further misfortune.
For your book club
- The crew treats cosmic trade like a high-stakes, sweaty office operation.
- Diplomacy here usually involves ritual knives and incredibly pungent body cream.