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.