The Founder

THE FOUNDER

By the 25th Century CE the slow building conflict between the billions trapped a greenhouse Earth and the 20 million Offworlders spread across the solar system approaches the breaing point. In the distant Uranus system, Edward Fundan, a habitat builder with vast resources, builds a starship. Other, earlier treks to the nearby systems were begun long before, but Fundan will use Phoenix reaction energies to achieve much higher velocity. Before he can finish the job, he is poisoned. His grandson, carefully raised to handle the job, takes over. Despite resistance from his own family, a powerful spacer clan, Dane completes the "Founder". On the way he strikes a pact with the devil, in the shape of the Khalifi Clan, a semi-outlaw group that clings to ancient Arab ways. The Founder escapes the system ahead of the efforts by the Earth Social-Synthesis government to prevent it, possibly the last starship that will ever do so.

The four year long trip to their destination becomes a tour of hell due to the Khalifi takeover. And when they reach the new world, with its mysterious ring continent and forest of enormous trees the Khalifi begin to colonize in their own thoughtless, greedy fashion.

Dane leads a rebellion against them and with his mastery of the ship's systems he succeeds. The remaining colonists begin to build their own colony on a coastal strip and some islands. Neither they, nor the Khalifi notice the strange "zipper" marks that have formed on the surrounding trees.

They have discovered the giant nests of the communal "chitin" insect, and also the Ay Fein, a heavily built humanoid species living in stone age conditions in the equatorial highlands, the only area where the giant trees don't grow.

Ultimately the trees disgorge their response to invasion, an army of Woodwose, creatures seventy feet tall, with woody flesh and terrible, destructive energy. The Khalifi are annihilated, and the remaining colonists escape with Dane's help to the coastal islands, where they regroup.