A starship crew returns to a primitive, post-apocalyptic—and deadly—Earth in this classic adventure by a Science Fiction Grand Master.

After eight centuries of exploring the stars, Space Capt. Peter Stagg and his starship crew return to Earth to find a scorched planet with little plant life remaining. Civilization has changed drastically with technology reverted to the Stone Age and culture centered on a pagan fertility cult.

Stagg soon finds himself initiated into the Elk fraternity. They graft antlers to his head, crowning him the new "Sunhero." He is then sent on a six-month tour to repopulate the world with the help of every willing virgin. Now the crew must find a way to escape, because while the captain's journey might sound pleasurable, it will only end in pain . . .

"A bawdy but good yarn." — Analog Science Fiction and Fact

"Farmer must have had lots of fun writing this because I had quite a bit reading it." — Locu