The world-finder can never return, for this journey should not have been; and this chaos and hatred - can even he survive?
Sertain is well-used to the unknown, and to the beneficial effect his knowledge and Logic can bring to primitives and civilised alike. But he is here by accident, and if there is one planet in the known universe that would present even this seasoned world-civiliser with a challenge - this is it.
After all, what species would hate itself so much as to wreak genetic damage on its own kind? And who are the mystery world-savers that eventually emerge - are they really aligned to the Lords of the Inner Court? Are they even the same species?
Maybe Sertain is doomed to spend the rest of his long days here - what peoples could or would offer such an advanced being sanctuary?
Edited by Victor Callaghan M.A.
Reviewed by Harper Collins in October 1997:
'SERTAIN PEOPLE ALWAYS LIVE (sic) does read well and you have some intriguing technological ideas. However, we didn't feel the story was quite original and distinctive enough to find a place on our list. I've enclosed our current catalogue and some Voyager literature which should give you a broad idea of the kinds of science fiction we seek to publish. Perhaps it will inspire...?'