Ballantine "First Printing: September 1968" paperback (#72113.) Cover artist unknown (not credited), 254 pages, 75 cent cover price. Condition is near Fine: tight and almost square with flat spine; mild uniform age-tanning. Number/price written in pen at top right of first page; no other marks or writing.

A "Known Space" novel by Larry Niven: A Gift from Earth. Serialized as "Slowboat Cargo" in IF February, March & April 1968. This is my favorite novel in the "Known Space" series, taking place between Protector and Ringworld.

The colony on Mount Lookiththat was a mistake: the only inhabitable area on the planet was a small plateau on the highest mountains. The interstellar ramscoop robot scouts had not been well-programmed: if they found part of a planet was habitable - they reported back with success. When the colony ship found the true state of the planet, the Crew set up a carefully balanced society, with themselves in charge. The Colonists served the near-immortal Crew, and contributed to the organ banks at the Hospital, enforced by the Implementation Police. Earth kept sending out technology improvements - this time the Rebels wanted to seize the shipment from Ramrobot #143 first. Matthew Keller was the nephew of a notorious rebel, who had kept his body from the organ banks by diving over the edge of the Plateau. Matt gets involved with the rebels, and is captured in a raid. That's when he finds he has a limited psi ability, and how best to use it. His escape makes him the prime target of the Implementation Police, and brings matters to a head.