A classic of science fiction from SF legend Gordon R. Dickson, winner of three Hugo awards, a Nebula award, and an inductee into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. Humans and alien adversaries contend on a world whose inhabitants resemble bears both in appearance and in temperament. 

A BEAR OF A CHOICE!

Planet Dilbia is in a crucial location for both humans and their adversaries, the Hemnoids. Therefore making friends with the Dilbians and establishing a human presence there is of the utmost importance, which may be a problem, since the bearlike Dilbians stand some nine feet tall, and have a high regard for physical prowess. They're not impressed by human technology, either. A real man, er, bear doesn't need machines to do his work for him.

But Dilbians are impressed by sharp thinking, and some have expressed a grudging admiration for the logical (and usually sneaky) mental maneuvers that the human "shorties" have used to get themselves out of desperate jams. Just maybe that old human craftiness will win over the Dilbians to the human side. If not, humanity loses a nexus, and the Dilbians will learn just how unbearable Hemnoids can be!

About Gordon R. Dickson:
 "Dickson is one of SF's standard-bearers."—Publishers Weekly

"Dickson has a true mastery of pacing and fine understanding of human beings."—Seattle Post Intelligencer

"A masterful science fiction writer."—Milwaukee Journal