The novel takes place in deep outer space, after months of travel from Earth's own solar system. The characters are travelling in a space ship among star systems across the Milky Way galaxy, and even to the neighbouring galaxy, M31, in Andromeda.

The Space Beagle is a spaceship of grand proportions, larger than any aircraft carrier which actually existed at the end of the twentieth century, but smaller than the fictional "Death Star" from the Star Wars movies. The duties of only a few characters are described, or even sketched out, among the crew of 180 officers and soldiers and 804 scientists.

The planets and beings encountered by the crew of the Space Beagle are intended to be plausible, scientific speculations of what could possibly be discovered during such a journey. The places and cultures described are also intended to be interesting and educational for the reader. A great deal...