I'd read a few Poul Anderson Novellas in Hugo / Nebula Collections during my freshman year in College and found his blend of Social Commentary with Hard Science rather nice.That said, this book, his first "Large" book that I've read is a bit of a disappointment - not because of a lack of Sci Fi, but rather at the pacing of the plot, and how the book in general came together, I found it a little hard to keep my attention on the book. The story itself is about Dan Broderson and a motley crew that he initially assembles which is later added on to by the crew members of another ship which had gone to distant galaxies in search of intelligent life and come back with a treasure trove of information and a member of another sentient race.Factions on earth feel that space travel is superfluous in light of the state of earth and try their best to suppress the craft that has returned from the distant reaches of space. The story then charts the heroism / recklessness with which Broderson and his crew plan and carry out a rescue operation which results in them getting lost in space.The story then tracks the fantastic planets that the crew come to in their search of the cosmos for a way back home ... which they eventually do after going through travails which are far better read than regurgitated =)
