Cirrus@Austlit

'The human equation as worked out by the Department of Socio-Economic Science required a sinister correction by The Subtracter' (www.bertramchandler.com).

After completing his time aboard the Federation's Survey Service Crusier, Pathfinder, John Grimes is denied a promotion but given command of a small Serpent Class Courier called Adder. His first assignment is a relatively unimportant one - to ferry the mysterious Mr Alberto to the planet Doncaster. Things begin to look up when Grimes meets the delightful Selam Madigan at an informal supper given by the Chair of Political Sciences at Duncannon University. When he is invited back to her apartment to read some literature on the League of Life, the unexpected happens (again).