Giraut and Margaret Leones are diplomats sent on a Special Operations mission to the world of Briand, a hot & heavier than normal gravity planet with two engineered earth cultures who hate each other, the Tamils and the Mayas. The Leones are there to see if they can keep these two peoples from annihilating each other and eventually bring them into the vast, interstellar culture of human settled space. These two cultures were originally planted on Briand with the idea of preserving a valuable part of man's early history. But due to unforeseen circumstances, the cultures have developed a deep intolerance for each other and a conviction of their own vast superiority over the other. The Leones have their work cut out for them, dealing with the planet's hothouse climate and heavier gravity, the locals' bigotry and violence and their own failing marriage.
I didn't like this story. The two cultures were stupid, each so convinced they are the last word in perfection. Margaret was a pill, mad at Giraut because he isn't loving enough and mad at him because he is too loving! The guy can't win with her. The Tamils and the Mayas are both blind to the fact that neither is an authentic recreation of their original cultures and neither has any claim to being the arbitor of truth. But mainly, I didn't like the story because it is all talk and no action until the very end. All these people do is stand around and flap their gums. Boring!
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