An interesting book. Fast moving for the most part yet with a bunch of ideology. On one hand, I'm surprised this book isn't more widely known, but on the other hand I can see why it isn't. Especially that ending.

Parts of this are 5-star writing. In many ways it surpasses your run-of-the-mill scifi tropes, especially for a 50s scifi book. But--vague spoiler--the plot kind of just flat lines in the last third, with the book literally ending on a lecture from the author in the form of a transcript of a discussion amongst the characters.

The cover of my copy makes the one race out to look like big apes, but when reading the book, I got much more the vibe of big yeti-like creatures. They're a pretty cool part of the book. ( )

It took me longer to get into this one than his other books--the entire first section of the book, about 80 pages, didn't really catch my interest. About halfway through the second section I was hooked, and his endings always leave me moved, this one being no exception. The man knows how to draw characters that are nuanced, real, and sometimes unforgettable. I'm going to give it some time, then read it again--this time knowing what's ahead will make the first part of the book seem different I think. This particular edition of the book is a reprint by Old Earth Books. and I'm afraid they may be extinct. I tried to get ahold of the publisher with no results and their website looks dated to the point of abandonment. I wish they--or somebody--would undertake to make hardcover editions of "Still I Persist in Wondering," and "In the Company of Glory," and wish also for a volume of his uncollected stories. I think he was one of the great SF writers of all time, and everybody should read his stuff. ( )

SF