Starman's Quest

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27444

Title

Starman's Quest

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In a future where relativistic travel creates an unbridgeable gap between Earth and space-faring Spacers, Alan Donnell abandons his privileged life aboard the Valhalla to find his twin brother, Steve, who jumped ship years ago. After surviving Earth's harsh reality, Alan discovers the legendary Cavour Hyperdrive, a technology that allows instantaneous interstellar travel. By mastering this invention, he reunites with his aged brother and revolutionizes humanity's relationship with the stars, ending the isolation of the Spacers.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in the late 24th century, Robert Silverberg's *Starman's Quest* explores the profound sociological rift created by the Fitzgerald Contraction, a relativistic phenomenon where time dilation separates interstellar travelers from those remaining on Earth. The narrative centers on Captain Donnell and his son Alan, who serve aboard the starship *Valhalla*, shuttling between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Alan's twin brother, Steve, grew up on the ship but eventually chose to leave, aging nine years relative to Alan during a single voyage. When Alan returns to Earth, the bond of their twinship is irrevocably broken by time; upon Alan's eventual return, he finds Steve has aged significantly, while Alan himself has aged only a few months due to the ship's high velocity. Haunted by the loss of his brother and the rigid traditions of the Spacer Enclave, Alan decides to abandon the *Valhalla*. He struggles to survive in the gritty, dangerous environment of York City, working as a gambler and facing hostility from Earthers who despise the Spacers. During this period, he befriends Max Hawkes, a wealthy but disillusioned gambler, and Rat, a small alien creature from Bellatrix. Alan's primary goal is to locate Steve and recover the secret of the Cavour Hyperdrive, a theoretical faster-than-light drive that could eliminate the time gap between worlds. After nine years on Earth, Alan has aged to match Steve's current age, effectively reversing the effects of the Contraction on himself. He successfully develops the Cavour Hyperdrive and uses it to travel from Earth to the *Valhalla* in a matter of days, reuniting with his brother and father. The discovery of the hyperdrive promises to unite the Spacer and Earther populations, ending the cultural estrangement caused by relativistic travel. The novel concludes with Alan and Steve embarking on a new journey together, accompanied by Rat, ready to explore the galaxy with the means to traverse it instantly, fulfilling the dream of instantaneous interstellar access that James Hudson Cavour had once sought.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27444.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg27444.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-05 02:00 UTC

Categories

• Science Fiction