A ship heading from Earth to Athena, a planet 500 light years away, is suddenly attacked by the Gerns, an alien empire in its expansion phase. People aboard are divided by the invaders into Acceptables and Rejects. The Acceptables would become slave labor for the Gerns on Athena, and the Rejects are forced ashore on the nearest 'Earth-like' planet, called Ragnarok. The Gerns say they will return for the Rejects, but the Rejects quickly realise that that isn't going to happen.
A ship heading from Earth to Athena, a planet 500 light years away, is suddenly attacked by the Gerns, an alien empire in its expansion phase. People aboard are divided by the invaders into Acceptables and Rejects. The Acceptables would become slave labor for the Gerns on Athena, and the Rejects are forced ashore on the nearest 'Earth-like' planet, called Ragnarok. The Gerns say they will return for the Rejects, but the Rejects quickly realise that that isn't going to happen....
The Frontier is a strange place—and a frontier is not always easy to recognize. It may lie on the other side of a simple door marked «No Admittance»—but it is always deadly dangerous.
Musaicum Books presents to you this meticulously edited Tom Godwin collection, formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. For The Cold Equations Space Prison The Nothing Equation The Helpful Hand of God Cry from a Far Planet The Last Victory —And Devious the Line of Duty Brain Teaser The Barbarians
For the most part, Godwin’s stories—however grim the situation—are really about triumph in the face of adversity. Here, in a story which is also a truly classic science fiction “problem solver tale,” is a splendid example.
