Soviet scientists discover the secret of a mysterious explosion that leveled a remote section of Siberia in 1889 and now intend to use their discovery to destroy the United States by identical, seemingly natural causes.

Have we got a planet for you. And don't worry: nothing native to Delta Pavonis is likely to hurt you; humans are too alien to be tasty. At least that's what they said during orientation. Dierdre Jamail isn't quite sure she believes them -- she's never believed an authority figure in her young life. That's why she's been assigned to Delta Pavonis, in fact, rather than to some more promising planet: Delta P. is the absolute least desirable exploration point in the entire galaxy. But Dierdre's always been lucky -- and she's about to make the find of the century -- and run into some serious authority figures.

THE ASTEROID BELT WANTS YOU!

It is the 21st century, and life on Planet Earth is not what it used to be, as the warnings of Left and Right have proved all too accurate. The rich have grown richer, the poor poorer, and raw materials ever scarcer and more expensive -- perhaps because a world-spanning socialistic bureaucracy has made it impossible for private enterprise to function, perhaps because the greedy capitalists have ridden rough-shod over the rest of us. Whatever the reason, the way to be free and happy is to get off Earth.

Space is where it's all happening, especially in the asteroid belt. But there are those on both sides who say the Solar System is too small to be part slave and part free. The war of independence is about to begin...

Soviet scientists discover the secret of a mysterious explosion that leveled a remote section of Siberia in 1889 and now intend to use their discovery to destroy the United States by identical, seemingly natural causes.

Have we got a planet for you. And don't worry: nothing native to Delta Pavonis is likely to hurt you; humans are too alien to be tasty. At least that's what they said during orientation. Dierdre Jamail isn't quite sure she believes them -- she's never believed an authority figure in her young life. That's why she's been assigned to Delta Pavonis, in fact, rather than to some more promising planet: Delta P. is the absolute least desirable exploration point in the entire galaxy. But Dierdre's always been lucky -- and she's about to make the find of the century -- and run into some serious authority figures.

THE ASTEROID BELT WANTS YOU!

It is the 21st century, and life on Planet Earth is not what it used to be, as the warnings of Left and Right have proved all too accurate. The rich have grown richer, the poor poorer, and raw materials ever scarcer and more expensive -- perhaps because a world-spanning socialistic bureaucracy has made it impossible for private enterprise to function, perhaps because the greedy capitalists have ridden rough-shod over the rest of us. Whatever the reason, the way to be free and happy is to get off Earth.

Space is where it's all happening, especially in the asteroid belt. But there are those on both sides who say the Solar System is too small to be part slave and part free. The war of independence is about to begin...