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In the free-fall environment of the Smoke Ring, the descendants of the crew of the Discipline no longer remembered their Earth roots -- or the existence of Sharls Davis Kendy, the computer-program despot of the ship. Until Kendy initiated contact once more. Fourteen years later, only Jeffer,... read more

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Characters/People edit see section history

  • Sharls Davis Kendy: Once a Checker for the State, now deceased. Also the evolving personality in the master computer of the seeder ramship Discipline and its service spacecraft.
  • Gavving: Man of Citizen's Tree and husband of Minya. Father of Rather, Harry, Qwen, and Gorey. Formerly of Quinn Tuft, and once a copsik of London Tree.
  • Minya: Wife of Gavving and woman of Citizen's Tree. Mother of Rather, Harry, Qwen, and Gorey. Once a triune of Dalton-Quinn Tuft and a copsik of London Tree.
  • Rather: A young man of Citizen's Tree. A dwarf, he is the son of Gavving and Minya, though it is speculated that Mark may actually be his true father. He was born on Citizen's Tree.
  • Mark: A man of Citizen's Tree and a dwarf, he pilots the silver suit. Formerly a soldier in the navy of London Tree.
  • Jeffer the Scientist: Scientist of Citizen's Tree. He was the Grad of Quinn Tuft and became the Scientist when Dalton-Quinn Tree split, and was briefly the apprentice of Klance the Scientist in London Tree. He is married to Lawri.
  • Lawri the Scientist: Scientist of Citizen's Tree and wife of Jeffer. She was the apprentice of Klance the Scientist in London Tree before being kidnapped during the War of London Tree when Jeffer commandeered the CARM.
  • Clave: Chairman of Citizen's Tree and husband of Jayan and Jinny. Father of Arth. Formerly the best hunter of Quinn Tuft, he was married to the Chairman's daughter Mayrin, and the dissolution of their marriage led to his leading the expedition that brought the surviving members of Quinn Tuft to their present circumstances.
  • Jayan: Twin sister of Jinny, wife of Clave, and mother of Arth; a woman of Citizen's Tree. Formerly of Quinn Tuft, and once a copsik of London Tree.
  • Jinny: Twin sister of Jayan and wife of Clave; a woman of Citizen's Tree.
  • Anthon: A man of Citizen's Tree, husband of Debby and Ilsa and father of Jill. Formerly a warrior of Carther States.
  • Debby: Woman of Citizen's Tree and wife of Anthon. Formerly of Cather States.
  • Ilsa: A woman of Citizen's Tree, now deceased. Wife of Anthon and mother of Jill, she was formerly from Carther States.
  • Merrill: A woman of Citizen's Tree with stunted legs, now deceased. She was one of the original members of Quinn Tuft.
  • Harry: Son of Gavving and Minya, born in Citizen's Tree.
  • Qwen: Daughter of Gavving and Minya, born in Citizen's Tree.
  • Gorey: Son of Gavving and Minya, born in Citizen's Tree.
  • Arth: Son of Clave and Jayan, born on Citizen's Tree.
  • Jill: Daughter of Ilsa and presumably Anthon, she is the firstborn child of Citizen's Tree.
  • Booce Serjent: Husband of Ryllin, father of Karilly, Wend, Mishael, and Carlot. Logger and captain of the Logbearer, and citizen of the Admiralty.
  • Ryllin Serjent: Wife of Booce and mother of Mishael, Karilly, Wend, and Carlot. Logger and citizen of the Admiralty.
  • Mishael Serjent: Eldest daughter of Booce and Ryllin, sister of Karilly, Wend, and Carlot. Citizen of the Admiralty.
  • Karilly Serjent: Second daughter of Booce and Ryllin, sister of Mishael, Wend, and Carlot. Citizen of the Admiralty. She has been mute since the death of Wend.
  • Wend Serjent: Third daughter of Booce and Ryllin, sister of Mishael, Karilly, and Carlot. She perished in the fire that brought the Serjents to Citizen's Tree.
  • Carlot Serjent: Youngest daughter of Booce and Ryllin, sister of Mishael, Karilly, and Wend. Citizen of the Admiralty. One of her legs is longer than the other.
  • Sharon Levoy: Crewmember of the ramship Discipline (Astrogation), long deceased. Levoy's Star (Voy) is named for her.
  • Sam Goldblatt: Crewmember of the ramship Discipline (Planetology), long deceased. Goldblatt's World (Gold) is named for him.
  • Claire Dalton: Crewmember of the ramship Discipline (Sociology/Medicine), long deceased. Dalton-Quinn Tuft is presumably named for her.
  • Dennis Quinn: Crewmember of the ramship Discipline (Captain), long deceased. Dalton-Quinn and Quinn Tufts were presumably named for him.
  • Capability Jasper Gray: Crewmember of the ramship Discipline (Cybernetics), long deceased.
  • Carol Burnes: Crewmember of the ramship Discipline (Life Support), long deceased.
  • Michelle Michaels: Crewmember of the ramship Discipline (Communications), long deceased.
  • Bosun Sectry Murphy: A female dwarf in the service of the Admiralty Navy.
  • Hilar Belmy: Logger and owner of the Woodsman. Husband of Jonveev, father of Raff.
  • Jonveev Belmy: Logger and wife of Hilar, mother of Raff. Runs the business.
  • Raff Belmy: Son of Hilar and Jonveev.
  • Lupoffs: A tribe of hapyfeet bandits who live near the Admiralty.
  • Radyo Mattson: Officer in the Admiralty Navy.
  • Dave Kon: Owns and runs the Vivarium in the Admiralty.
  • Mand Curts: Broker for goods from the Dark in the Admiralty.
  • Zakry Bowles: Runs the Vivarium in the Admiralty.
  • Raym Wilby: A Dark diver in the Admiralty, far gone on fringe.
  • Adjeness Swart: Works in the Vivarium in the Admiralty.
  • Captain-Guardian Wayne Mickl: Officer of the Admiralty Navy, Captain-Guardian, and dwarf.
  • John Lockheed: Teaches flying and other gymnastics to Admiralty citizens' children.
  • Nurse Lockheed: Maintenance, works in the Market of the Admiralty.
  • Grag Maglicco: Spacer First, Admiralty Navy.
  • Half Hand: Runs the restaurant Half Hand's in the Admiralty.
  • Doheen: Spacer First, Admiralty Navy.
  • Jonthan: Spacer First, Admiralty Navy.
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First Sentence edit see section history

The planet below him was hidden t6o all of Sharl's senses save for the Neutrino Screen, the Neudar.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 3 of 4 in The State. (standard series)

Preceded by The Integral Trees.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Larry Niven (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

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Page Count: 323

Classification edit see section history


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