This is a classic science fiction short story by James H. Schmitz and illustrated by Finlay. The following passage is part of its intriguing intro: ‘On a bleak, distant unchartered world two ships lay wrecked and a lone man stared at a star hyacinth. Its brilliance burned into his retina … and he knew that men could easily kill and kill for that one beauty alone.’ This work is part of our Vintage Sci-Fi Classics Series, a series in which we are republishing some of the best stories in the genre by some of its most acclaimed authors, such as Isaac Asimov, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and Robert Sheckley. Each publication is complete with a short introduction to the history of science fiction.