"A remarkable collection. On the surface, each story as a unit appears to be completely different, yet all of them are part of a whole, contributing to the development of a central theme–thoughtful and provocative and, best of all, beautifully written."—Sunday Oregonian "Panshin, a young Ancient Mariner, dramatizes the struggles involved in getting rid of the albatross–our immaturity. In a sense, this book is a parabolic sequel to Darwin, Panshin's Ascent of Man."—Philip José FarmerA fascinating array of stories from the boundless imagination of a Hugo and Nebula winning author; taking ours minds on a journey from the near and familiar to the farther reaches of what we must become.