"Rollicking first of an alternate history series. Readers will eagerly anticipate a trip to Mars in the sequel."-- Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Early probes to Venus and Mars found both to be teeming with life in this alternate universe. Marc is stationed at Jamestown, a US-Commonwealth base on this alternate Venus rife with life, including sabertooths and dinosaurs. This base is not just a scientific outpost; it's a frontier of American and allied adventurers and scientists navigating a world as perilous as it is mysterious. Cynthia is a newly arrived scientist from Earth tasked with studying some strange geological formations. She teams up with Marc, and during their investigation, they stumble across trouble brewing in the alien wilderness. The scientists are baffled by Venus's Earth-like life forms, which stir scientific and political tensions.

The EastBloc's nearby base, Cosmograd, adds to the chilly diplomatic climate. In a parallel struggle, Teesa of the Cloud Mountain People native to Venus is locked in a fierce battle with Neanderthal-like beastmen over sacred caves. An EastBloc shuttle crash escalates the conflict, arming the beastmen with modern weaponry. Jamestown's mission to rescue the EastBloc cosmonauts spirals into a journey of discovery. The protagonists face tribal warfare and unearth secrets that could redefine their understanding of science and history. Amidst all this, a hidden enemy lurks on their own airship. Events come to a head when Marc and Cynthia uncover evidence that may hold the key not only to the mystery of Venusian life, but of life on Earth, too. "Stirling offers an easygoing, atmospheric tale airbrushed with fuzzy political overtones, along with a good bit of humor and lively characterization.

"-- Kirkus Reviews.