The Lifeship
Gordon R. Dickson and Harry Harrison
1997 Severn House
B
This is an odd semi-political tale about the differences of race and class;
and how people of different backgrounds can get along.  Set in the far future,
a starliner blows up in space and a few survivors make their way to a lifeship,
the equivalent of a lifeboat.  One human of the upper caste, who assumes the 
leadership role, several humans of the worker caste, who act in a manner
similar to slaves, and two aliens, who are the only ones capable of piloting
the ship.  As the story goes we learn more about each character, and how they
develop over time.  In many ways this sounds a lot like a feel-good story of
racial acceptance that would be more appropriate for the 1960's.  The authors
are both extremely good storytellers and this entertaining book delivers on
that, without being too preachy.