Man has warred for centuries with the reptilian race called "Basics". The winner of each bloody encounter has made slaves of the loserbut in this far-future conflict each side improves its slaves with genetic engineering. On Aerlith, men have bred Basics into fearsome troops; on Coralyne, Basics have developed grotesque mutant human warriors. The mysterious Sacerdotes watch and wait for Aerlith and Coralyne's final contest.Hugo Award winner, 1963.Cover art by Todd Tennant
Man has warred for centuries with the reptilian race called "Basics". The winner of each bloody encounter has made slaves of the loserbut in this far-future conflict each side improves its slaves with genetic engineering. On Aerlith, men have bred Basics into fearsome troops; on Coralyne, Basics have developed grotesque mutant human warriors. The mysterious Sacerdotes watch and wait for Aerlith and Coralyne's final contest.Hugo Award winner, 1963.Cover art by Todd Tennant