In the Far Future, young Thorby is sold in a slave market to an old beggar who is more than he seems to be; and Thorby takes part in many adventures as he climbs the ladders of power and learns the truth of his own identity. A suspenseful tale of adventure, coming-of-age and interstellar conflict by science fiction's Grand Master.

"Not only America's premier writer of speculative fiction, but the greatest writer of such fiction in the world."
- Stephen King

"There is no other writer whose work has exhilarated me as often and to such an extent as Heinlein."
- Dean Koontz

"One of the most influential writers in American Literature."
- The New York Times Book Review

"Heinlein wears imagination as though it were his private suit of clothes."
- The New York Times

"Heinlein… has the ability to see technologies just around the bend. That, combined with his outstanding skill as a writer and engineer-inventor, produces books that are often years ahead of their time."
- The Philadelphia Inquirer

"One of the grand masters of science fiction."
- The Wall Street Journal

Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988), often called the Science Fiction Grand Master, was the author of such ground-breaking novels as STARSHIP TROOPERS, RED PLANET, STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND and THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. He is generally considered the greatest and most influential science fiction writer of the twentieth century. In addition to being a bestselling author, Heinlein's novels won 4 Hugo awards, 3 "retro Hugo" awards, and the first "Grand Master Award" from the Science Fiction Writers of America.