Published by Tor, 1993,
paperback, $5.99 ISBN 0-812-51647-8
319 pages

Think of Camelot 30K as something of a Star Trek Next Generation episode with a first contact plot. Humans discover aliens. Humans set up a meeting. Humans explore alien civilization. And invariably, something goes wrong that takes great fortitude -- and lots of angst -- to overcome.

Well, I just spoiled the plot of Camelot 30K. Not to worry, for you see, Forward imbues his characters with a flair for concern, and hence, interest, as they maneuver through the well-worn plot. The alien civilization, and the scientific background that goes along with it, make for exciting reading as robotic probes mix with neat-o sci-fi technology. Forward crafts such a clever tale, you feel Camelot 30K is a brand new story.

The slight-of-page consists of the alien civilization essentially being the proverbial 10,000 aliens on the head of a pin, where our observations of life are in miniature, of a different chemical composition, and more like ants than aliens. The big difference between television episodes and Camelot 30K is the Prime Directive -- Captain Piccard struts to it, and the six or so compatible C30K scientists (and one cat -- a particularly inappropriate aspect that ruins the internal logic of the setting) don't.

Other than these nits, Forward plunges ahead into the endeavors of scientific inquiry, providing a very pleasing read and a juicy twist for an ending.