Hardcover. NY, Berkeley Publishing, BC Ed., 1977, Book: Very Good, Dust Jacket: Very Good, Hardcover in a bright dust jacket, 183 pages. The 1000-year old Terran empire, loosely governed by the capitalist Polesotechnic League of trading companies, is decaying. The old order is dying -- the PL is collapsing and a few huge corporate blocs are taking power. A dispute over the ownership of Mirkheim, a recently discovered, mineral rich planet, precipitates the formation of the first union of interplanetary governments with the PL, and members clamor for war -- the first interstellar war is about to begin. Anderson's novel features two of his series characters: Nicholas Van Rijn and David Falkayne. Part of Anderson's future history series. Clean Book Club edition.
