Notes
First published by Gollancz in 1975.

Publisher’s Blurb – Lower Cover
After thirty years, Duncan Makenzie, heir to Titan’s great Makenzie dynasty, was returning to the world where he’d been born, yet never seen.

Duncan Makenzie was returning to Earth. His first task was to represent his underground colony at the 2276 bicentennial celebrations. His second was more delicate – for his planet, his family and himself. It meant a confrontation with a childhood friend – and enemy – a man prepared to pursue his technological vision outside the bounds of the imperial regime.

But this was the man who would give Duncan the courage to look for knowledge beyond the Solar System. And teach him that though what he found there might be overwhelming, the price of ignorance was extinction . . .

"A panorama of mind-bending details . . . excellent"
- Sunday Telegraph

"Full of vivid description and adventure. Arthur C. Clarke is the master of the cosmic vision, of inspired guesses soundly based"
- Irish Times

"Great originality and a large helping of brilliant innovation"
- Sunday Times