“I always get the shakes before a drop. I’ve had the injections, of course, and hypnotic preparation, and it stands to reason that I can’t really be afraid. The ship’s psychiatrist has checked my brain waves and asked me silly questions while I was asleep and tells me that it isn’t fear, it isn’t anything important – it’s just like the trembling of an eager race horse in the starting gate. “I couldn’t say about that; I’ve never been a race horse. But the fact is: I’m scared silly, every time.” Chapter 1, pg. 5.

“‘You seemed to be unaware of it,’ he said grimly. ‘Since you do know it, wouldn’t you say that violence had settled their destinies rather thoroughly? However, I was not making fun of you personally; I was heaping scorn on an inexcusably silly idea – a practice...