Fred Cassidy is a perpetual student, in his 13th year as an undergraduate, thanks to unusual provisions of his uncle's will. He also is an acrophiliac, and likes climbing about the spires and roofs of his university. He surprises a professor who is ransacking his room and accuses Fred of stealing the Star Stone model... Fred is pursued to his geological digs in Australia, and rescued (or kidnapped?) by a pair of intersellar cops in disguise. The chase is on, involving cosmic blackmail, intrigue of galactic foreign policy... along with humor & plenty of action.

This was serialized in Analog from June through August 1975. Doorways In the Sand was a Hugo nominee.