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Orphan Star

First edition
Author	Alan Dean Foster
Cover artist	Darrell K. Sweet[1]
Language	English
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Del Rey Books
Publication date	1977
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (paperback)
Pages	240
ISBN	0-345-46104-5
OCLC	53936118
Preceded by	The Tar-Aiym Krang
Followed by	The End of the Matter

Orphan Star (1977) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The book is Foster's eighteenth published book, his fifth original novel, and is chronologically the third entry in the Pip and Flinx series. Bloodhype (1973) was the second novel to include Pip and Flinx, but it is eleventh chronologically in the series and the two characters had a relatively small part in that novel's plot.

The story begins with Flinx, a young man with a mysterious past, who is no longer the poor orphan he once was embarking on a personal quest to uncover the truth about his parentage. Now in possession of a small fortune and his loyal flying minidrag, Pip, Flinx is kidnapped by a wealthy merchant, Conda Challis, who wants to use Flinx's unique abilities to harness the power of a rare Janus Jewel. While escaping, Flinx learns that Conda Challis has information about his mysterious parentage.

Flinx’s pursues Challis to Hivehom, the homeworld of the insect-like Thranx species, where he is captured and escapes once again. He learns that Challis has fled to Terra, the Human homeworld. Following the merchant to Terra, Flinx forces Challis to reveal that the information about his birth mother is contained in Commonwealth Church records.

Flinx infiltrates the Commonwealth Church records facility where he encounters Sylzenzuzex, a female Thranx and a member of the Commonwealth Church. Having saved her life from a disguised alien Aann - a lizard-like alien species - who might have been in posession of a Janus Jewel, Flinx calls in her life debt and forces Sylzenzuzex to accompany him to the planet Ulru-Ujurr, a planet shrouded in mystery and placed under Edict by the United Church. The Edict forbids unauthorized access to the planet, ostensibly to protect its inhabitants, a highly intelligent and telepathic species known as the Ulru-Ujurrians.

Upon arriving at Ulru-Ujurr, Flinx discovers the truth about the Janus Jewels and how the Aann are using them against the Commonwealth and that the planet’s telepathic inhabitants are not only aware of his presence but also seem to hold the key to his parentage. The Ulru-Ujurrians, childlike in their societal development despite their advanced mental abilities, are engaged in what they call the "Game of Civilization." This process involves their gradual evolution into a more structured and complex society.

As Flinx delves deeper into the mysteries of Ulru-Ujurr, he learns shocking truths about his origins, including the role his parents played in events that have far-reaching consequences for the Commonwealth. The revelations force Flinx to confront his own identity and the responsibilities that come with his unique abilities, including his latent empathic powers.

In the climactic moments of the novel, Flinx becomes instrumental in jump-starting the Ulru-Ujurrians’ "Game of Civilization," helping them take critical steps toward societal advancement. This act not only aids the Ulru-Ujurrians but also serves as a turning point for Flinx, allowing him to embrace his past and look toward his future with newfound clarity and purpose.

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008)

• Orphan Star title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Alan Dean Foster homepage

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