From the Hugo and Nebula AwardтАУwinning author of┬аThe Martian Child: тАЬThis playful, intricate game of survival┬а.┬а.┬а. is one of GerroldтАЩs best books.тАЭ тАФPublishers Weekly
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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 hadnтАЩt 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.
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Now the humans find out that the Galactic Encyclopedia has a user feeтАФand they are overdrawn! If the debt canтАЩt be paid, humanity will be sold as slaves┬а.┬а.┬а. or┬аfood. Asst. Liaison Officer Yake Singh Browne feels personally betrayed. He comes up with a strategy: If humanity canтАЩt win playing by the rules of the game, heтАЩll just have to change the rules.
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Game on!
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тАЬTaut and well-constructed, providing a convincing glimpse of alien biology and psychology┬а.┬а.┬а. A good yarn.тАЭ тАФKirkus Reviews
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тАЬGerrold has written a fine but demanding science-fiction novel┬а.┬а.┬а. Those with perseverance will enjoy the storyтАЩs campy humor and unexpected plot twists.тАЭ тАФSchool Library Journal
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