Birthright: The Book of Man — Mike Resnick

The epic story of humanity writ large across the galaxy: “A tour de force . . . an award caliber novel . . . a profound contribution to science fiction” (Barry Malzberg, author of Beyond Apollo).

In the twenty-fifth century, settlements are established on Mars and the inner planets, but the stars are still light-years away, just a twinkle in humanity's eyes. Hyperspace is a myth -- until it's not. A young scientist devises a theory for an engine that propels a ship at faster-than-light speed -- and suddenly the galaxy is there for the taking.

It's a story that's been told before in the annals of human history. And here, Hugo and Nebula Award�"winning author Mike Resnick has it all covered, from our first alien contact and the colonization of new planets to the exploitation of resources by miners and merchants and the politicians who pave the way. Here is humanity in all its glory, its rise and inevitable fall as power and oppression give way to defiance and anarchy. Ambitious in scope, Birthright shows that the nature of humans doesn't change, just the size of the playing field . . .