Five hundred years before the events in The Songs of Distant Earth, Earth's sun went nova, destroying Earth and the other planets of the solar system. There was just enough warning to evacuate survivors in hyperships, each carrying one million sleepers in suspended animation, as well as the gene banks of plants and animals. The Magellan, experiencing considerable erosion from interstellar space debris, stops at the planet Thalassa to construct a new shield. The Thalassans are happy to help the interstellar travellers but matters get complicated when the travellers are tempted by the idyllic lifestyle on Thelassa, and the Thelassans are attracted by the adventure of deep-space voyage... and then Commander Lorenson falls in love in Mirissa, a Thelassan girl. Cover art by Michael Whelan.