H Beam Piper will stand as one of the greats of sci-fi/fantasy for as long as the printed word exists, whether you are a mystery/thriller, detective novel or space opera/alternative universe fan, Piper delivers. In H B's writing you will find the forerunner of many who followed in his ginormous footsteps, (federated terran space, space vikings, even his place names have been copied by later writers! Aldebaran sound familiar)? Great reading, great fun and a must for anyone who really wants to be lost in another space/time continuum!