One of my favorite all-time science fiction books by a woman who quickly became one of my favorite authors -- I only wish I could find more that she's written. I've always loved the "human among a polyglot of alien cultures" story-line, and this is one of the best. There is humor, there is drama, there is sexuality, there is lots of heart, all of them in abundance. If I have any reservations, it's only because of the (slight) cliche' of the human hero: A guy who seems to have an overall lack of perspective for the situation he's in. Here he is, the first human ever to visit an alien world, the person who gets Earth involved with a galactic federation... and he spends most of his time worried that, by leaving Earth, he's breaking the provisions of his parole. Seriously? I was like, Duuuuuude...!