Buzz Aldrin's contribution is evident here. Although perhaps too detailed at times, the description of the politics and hardware involved in man's conquest of space is fascinating. A flaw of the novel becomes evident in the lengthy Tiberian mid-section, which probably came predominantly from co-author Steven Barnes. The aliens are far too human in their psychology-so much so that it is easy to forget that they are aliens at all. The novel ends beautifully on just the right note of mystery and romance as humankind, now fully matured as a star-faring race, seeks the elusive descendants of their ancient alien predecessors.

There is the action novel part, with God-impersonation, biblical floods, and moon crashes. There is the political commentary, with communist monitors, ill-executed political space missions, and slavery. There is the technical manual, with zero-point lasers, interstellar travel, antimatter, and huge computers. There is the coming-of-age story, with young aliens going through puberty in space, culture fading over generations, and sons following in fathers' footsteps.

The composition is just too jumbled, though. In an attempt to be the book about everything, the novel becomes a book without a point, without a climax, unsupported science, and with an unsatisfying ending. Too bad, too, because the beginning is positively riveting.

I would recommend it, but don't expect the great American novel; this book was written for a purpose other than being a great book.