Six "pilgrims" are on their way to see the Shrike, terror of the universe, who is beyond the understanding of even the incredible (yawn) technological prowess of the future. On the way we hear each of the pilgrims' stories. These yarns are good enough to get you through the book, but even the bright spots are disappointing.

The story has promise, but it isn't delivered on: it's intentionally terminated just before the climax in order to force you to buy the sequel. A dirty trick, but somehow I can live without continuing on. Another big problem is that the book is full of heard-it, seen-it, read-it scifi, assumptions that the whizziest technology of 1996 is indicative of 2700, other abundant anachronisms, and very many stumbles through too-easy conditions or Earth references. All we're missing is the inevitable incipient armageddon with a superenemy threatening the very survival of all humankind. Oops, we have that, too! But maybe the Shrike can help us? Whatever. Prose: fair. Dialog: weak.

I've been told a lot of Sci Fi fans love this. Hmmm. This makes me think they're an easy sell.