This James Tiptree Jr. Award–winning anthropological science fiction novel about first contact with an alien culture is "fascinating" and "irresistible" (Ursula K. LeGuin). Lixia and the members of her human crew are determined not to disturb the life on the planet circling the Star Sigma Draconis which they have begun exploring. But the factions on the mother ship hovering above the planet may create an unintended chaos for both the life on the planet and the humans exploring it. As the anger increases on the ship, the ground crew becomes more and more affected by the conflict and begins to rely on their instincts to keep the project moving forward. Unexpected danger plagues the mission as Lixia is determined to expand her knowledge. This "excellent, anthropologically oriented SF tale" novel ( Publishers Weekly ) explores the mix of fear and fascination as humans and aliens meet, alert to the potential for both mutual enrichment and mutual destruction, and offers "strong characters, well-written dialogue, and a plot full of adventure" ( School Library Journal ).