Helliconia Summer (The Helliconia Trilogy Book 2)

Helliconia nears its larger star in its binary system as the second volume of the Helliconia Trilogy continues. Centuries have passed since the first book; the Phagors have been driven into exile, but human civilization remains fragmented by conflicting religions and hostility to science. Wars over power and fertile land persist, and a plague devastates populations. Everything changes when a secret visitor from an observer satellite stationed above Earth arrives on the planet. Accepting a slow death to make the journey, this visitor spends time in the sunlight and open air of Helliconia. This edition includes a map, an afterword, and an introduction by the author.