The highly-praised author of Starplex, End of an Era, and Foreigner presents a thrilling new story, a skillful blend of the great wonders of the universe and the harsh realities of life on earth. When a disabled starship enters our atmosphere, fear is quickly replaced with awe-and the incredibly intelligent members of the Tosok race are welcomed with open arms. But the growing spirit of trust and cooperation is shattered when a popular human scientist is found dead. The U.S. government provides a leading civil rights lawyer to defend the accused alien. And an unprecedented trial centers around not only one lost life, but the very essence of justice itself.