A young man receives a totally unexpected invitation to become one of the fourteen members of the crew of the first interstellar starship, which has been developed by a group of scientists working in relative secrecy. An amazing discovery in physics allows the starship to be displaced from the earth to the vicinity of an earth-like exoplanet many light years away. This story chronicles the efforts of the crew as they adjust to their new surroundings and then attempt to learn more about their new home planet, which supports a totally alien flora and fauna.