In this science fiction novel, a former colonial administrator returns to the alien world he once helped govern, seeking redemption for his past exploitation of the planet's sentient species. The planet, now free from human rule, is home to enigmatic and spiritually advanced elephant-like creatures and a mysterious life-transforming ritual. As the protagonist embarks on a journey of self-discovery and atonement, he confronts the moral complexities of colonialism, his own guilt, and the profound mysteries of an alien culture that challenges his understanding of consciousness and redemption.

The 9835th greatest book of all time