Larry Greenberg is telepathic, and has been developing his telepathic abilities communicating with dolphins. Following an approach from a physicist, who believes a mysterious statue discovered under the sea is in fact an alien being in a 'slow time' field Greenberg becomes the first human to come into contact with another alien.

Unfortunately for him the alien is a more advanced telepath and the transfer of the being's mind overwhelms him, leaving the alien persona Kzanol in control of Greenberg's body. Having escaped from the centre where this encounter occurred Kzanol/Greenberg then heads for the spaceport to try to steal a ship to leave Earth.

Larry Niven can usually be relied upon to tell a good sf story. This certainly does not threaten his reputation in this regard. This is not a sf novel as might get published today, it is shorter and not as epic in scope and feel as we might find in the new releases section. But it should certainly satisfy most sf readers.