Paul has learned that his father died in an accident – then, a few days later, he’s seen him pass by in a car, alive and well! Shaken by the discovery, the young man continues his investigation and eventually manages to track him down. Unfortunately, that merely causes him to share in his father’s serious troubles... Meanwhile, an increasing number of strange phenomena plague Altair – and awake the interest of the alien Stepanerks...

Paul and Professor Stanford’s archaeological expedition are exploring the ruins of Altair in an effort to understand how the people who built them vanished altogether. Protected from various dangers by their deadly guardian angel the Stepanerk, they make some decidedly unexpected discoveries. Until Paul is reminded of his original quest, that is, when a bounty hunter asks for his help tracking down his lost father – who’s wanted for murder. spaceport... Later, they are rescued from a gang of thugs by a Stepanerk, a member of a sentient alien species. An encounter that will prove invaluable to Paul when he decides to go and look for his father...

18 year old Paul, his mother and his sister land on Altair-4, a recently established human colony. They expect to be reunited with Paul’s father there and start a new life, but he doesn’t show up to welcome them at the spaceport... Later, they are rescued from a gang of thugs by a Stepanerk, a member of a sentient alien species. An encounter that will prove invaluable to Paul when he decides to go and look for his father...

Abandoned amidst a hostile wilderness, Paul has been rescued by a biologist, Mr Amid. The scientist is studying the pearls that are Altair’s true wealth – and more particularly the plants that produce them and that appear to be dying off. Amid offers to take on Paul as his assistant, but the young man is still looking for his father. As he follows the trail, Paul becomes tougher and more inured to life on his new planet – and to human nature.

Kim’s group, still stranded halfway across Antares, must get back to the base camp through a journey filled with deadly encounters. Meanwhile, at the base camp, a trip to the neighbouring planet source of the strange ray that vaporised Kim’s daughter is being organised. The prospect of meeting an intelligent species, though, drives the religious fanatics in charge to clamp down on any person or activity deemed rebellious. As if a hostile world isn’t enough, the colonists have brought their own worst enemy with them...

The Stepanerks, those strange aliens who The Stepanerks, those strange aliens who sometimes mingle with Humans, have contacted another, as yet undiscovered, alien species that has been guarding Altair for centuries. Those guardians want to forcefully evict Humans, who are doing terrible damage to the ecosystem. But Paul, unwitting ‘guest’ at their meeting, defended Humanity’s right to a second chance. It now falls to him to convince the Human colonial authorities to change everyone’s behaviour...