Man Who Counts

"The Man Who Counts (aka War of the Wing-Men)" by Poul Anderson, published by Ace. Nicholas Van Rijn...Interstellar Merchant Prince one moment, barbarian chattel the next. Marooned half a world and an ocean away from the sole human outpost on a planet whose very water is poisonous to humans; captured by winged barbarians in the midst of a brutal war of extermination, somehow ''Old Nick'' must scheme, conspire, wrangle and battle his way to survival. How, with the aid of his two companions, he does so is the story of...The Man Who Counts. (from cover back)REVIEWEnjoyed it! This I believe was the first of a series of stories of the Polesotechnic League and introduced the flamboyant character of Nicholas Van Rijn. The story moves nicely with the human-heroes trying to get back to an area of safety (because the food on this world is poisonous.) In order to pull this off they have to work with two waring factions on the planet. Along the way you learn all about the culture and the world these factions live on. There is also a extra lesson on leadership supplied at the end. What I enjoyed the most was Anderson's ''World Building.'' Which was Wonderfully imaginative, clever and consistent Book details: published 1955. Order now on BookShops.in with fast, reliable delivery across India.