When mankind burst into the stars, the human psyche splintered - and humanity become many species, each specialized overdevelopment of a single trait.

Tam Olyn was a trained news observer from Old Earth - a complete man. To hime the conflict between the fissuring worlds was at first a challenge, then a personal vendetta.

THE FRIENDLIES were his enemy...in them blind, fanatical Faith had become an all-abiding obsession.

THE DORSAI were warriors, born and bred, but they had not nursed their talents for self-glory but had placed them - for a price - at the service of others.

And when these two driving destructive talents of humanity met head on, Tam Olyn had a plan of his own, for which cosmic humanity was not prepared.