First published 1993
Brion stands victorious after conquering the Twenties, a worldwide contest measuring excellence across twenty different human endeavors. His triumph should mark the beginning of a celebrated life on his home world. Instead, he faces an impossible choice. The planet Dis awaits his help, and this world represents everything hostile to human survival. Known throughout the galaxy as the most brutal environment imaginable, Dis threatens to destroy anyone who attempts to reach it. Brion must abandon the comfort and recognition he has earned to venture into this nightmare landscape. His mission involves salvaging an entire world that seems beyond redemption. The creator of beloved characters like The Stainless Steel Rat and Bill the Galactic Hero delivers another adventure that tests human limits. Brion discovers that winning a competition on his peaceful home world provides little preparation for the horrors that Dis presents. He must find strength he never knew he possessed to survive where others have failed completely.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, adventure, space-opera
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, hero-s-journey
Setting: Dis, Twenties
289 pages · Kindle Edition · Tor Books