Janir Semler of the planet Oldavar fights to save his world -- and his family -- after a devastating attack from space. Six hundred years later, human explorer Ethan Sun works to solve the mystery of how Oldavarian civilization died. His closest advisor: his mother. Never mind that she died 24 years earlier. Reviews of Dave Creek's earlier work: "The world building is most impressive...I see too few writers willing to take the trouble to do it these days." -- Stanley Schmidt, former editor of ANALOG SCIENCE FICTION ..".there's more than enough otherness here to satisfy any sf reader." -- Don Sakers, reviewer, ANALOG SCIENCE FICTION