The pursuit of a legendary beast pushes a hunter to his breaking point in this classic science fiction adventure by a five-time Hugo Award–winning author.
“I applaud The Soul Eater . . . a rarity in science fiction . . . any sensitive reader should be profoundly moved.” —Wilson Tucker
You name it, he’ll kill it. Professional game hunter Nicobar Lane will travel anywhere in the galaxy to kill almost any creature for the right price. But when the richest woman in the Deluros system requests the Dreamwish Beast, he refuses. It’s not her—he just doesn’t believe in the animal, whether you call it a Dreamwish Beast, a Starduster, Straigor, or Deathdealer. It’s simply a fable meant to scare children, and not worth his time . . .
Then, an inexplicable sighting on a routine hunt changes everything. The more Lane investigates what he thinks he saw, the more his obsession grows. Suddenly the hunt for the Dreamwish Beast is on. But Lane is left wondering if he is closer to reaching greatness—or his own death . . .
The perfect choice for readers of Alan Dean Foster, Timothy Zahn, and Joe Haldeman.
Mike Resnick (1942–2020) was an American science fiction author and editor. A winner of five Hugo Awards and a Nebula Award, Resnick was hugely popular in the world of fandom and was the guest of honor at many science fiction conventions, including Chicon 7, the World Science Fiction Convention in Chicago. He was the executive editor of Jim Baen’s Universe, as well as the editor and co-creator of Galaxy’s Edge magazine. In addition to publishing hundreds of books, Resnick was known for helping new writers start their careers. The Mike Resnick Memorial Award was created in 2021 to honor his memory and carry on his legacy by spotlighting new writers of short fiction in the genre.