by John Brunner
First published 1982
The colonists aboard the transport ship stare through viewports at Asgard's surface, expecting the promised land their mission briefings described. What they find instead challenges every assumption about their new home. The planet's environment proves far more demanding than anticipated, with conditions that test human endurance and adaptability. As the settlers establish their foothold on this alien world, they must confront the gap between their dreams of paradise and the harsh realities of survival on Asgard. The colonists discover that building a new civilization requires more than hope and determination. They face choices that will determine not just their survival, but what kind of society they will become on this unforgiving planet. Brunner explores how ordinary people respond when their greatest aspirations collide with circumstances beyond their control.
Genres: fiction, science-fiction, space, adventure
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: clash-of-cultures, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Asgard
185 pages · Paperback · Ballantine Books