From the Hugo and Nebula Awardâwinning author of The Martian Child: âThis playful, intricate game of survival . . . is one of Gerroldâs best books.â âPublishers Weekly  The human race has been played for a fool. Though welcomed into the galactic community and given access to the combined knowledge of thousands of intelligent species, humans are largely regarded as an evolutionary mistake. Reptilian, insectoid, and other unclassifiable species are the dominant forms of intelligence. If it hadnât been for that annoying comet, the dinosaurs would have continued their evolutionary journey to sentience. Instead the ridiculous mammalians survived. And they want to be treated as equals.  Now the humans find out that the Galactic Encyclopedia has a user feeâand they are overdrawn! If the debt canât be paid, humanity will be sold as slaves . . . or food. Asst. Liaison Officer Yake Singh Browne feels personally betrayed. He comes up with a strategy: If humanity canât win playing by the rules of the game, heâll just have to change the rules.  Game on!  âTaut and well-constructed, providing a convincing glimpse of alien biology and psychology . . . A good yarn.â âKirkus Reviews  âGerrold has written a fine but demanding science-fiction novel . . . Those with perseverance will enjoy the storyâs campy humor and unexpected plot twists.â âSchool Library Journal  Â
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