Note: Berkley released two publications that state "Sixth printing." The first is an undated edition which is 176 pages and the second is the 1977 edition at 188 pages. The differences are:

• It was typeset with one less line of text per page.
• The story is now sectioned into chapters, starting at the top of a page and leaving space at the end to start the next chapter atop the next page.
• Fictional quotes and epigrams were added at the beginning of each chapter.
• Story text is not the same either which, along with the previously noted materials, explains the additional 1977©

Synopsis: From Amazon: In the far future, humankind has made contact with numerous other species: Gowachin, Laclac, Wreaves, Pan Spechi, Taprisiots, and Caleban, and has helped to form the ConSentiency to govern among the species. After suffering under a tyrannous pure democracy, the sentients of the galaxy find the need for a Bureau of Sabotage (BuSab) to slow the wheels of government, thereby preventing it from legislating recklessly. BuSab is allowed to sabotage and harass the governmental, administrative, and economic powers in the ConSentiency. Private citizens must not be harassed, and vital functions of society are also exempt. Jorj X. McKie is a born troublemaker who has become one of BuSab's best agents. Drafted for the impossible task of establishing meaningful communication with an utterly alien entity who defies understanding, McKie finds himself racing against time to prevent a mad billionairess from wiping out all life in the ConSentiency.