I have been a science fiction fan all my life, and of all the science fiction works I have read, this was one that stood the test of time, and remains among my favorites, even after 50 years since it's publishing. I too feel that this would make a great movie, especially now that motion picture arts and sciences can do justice to conveying both the imagery and emotions rendered by the author.

This story begins with a dedicated crew of star rangers, who despite the degenerating conditions of the empire they serve, risk performing their duties. They end up stranded as a result, and revert to surviving in an unfamiliar environment, with no hope of ever returning home. I found myself drawn into their emotional states of loss, and hope... and this is where the story begins.

I read this story after finding it in the the middle school library, shorty after starting as a student there more than forty years ago. I still feel compelled to keep a hard bound copy of this book... and I am getting to be an old man now... it is that good! I can only hope that this work may be "discovered" by more people than have so far, and sincerely hope that it will take it's place among the best recognized quality works of science fiction ever written. -review