Note: Based on the Fuzzy novels by H. Beam Piper. This novel has no discontinuity with the other books.

Synopsis: Fuzzies and their own experiences show them in a whole new light. Drought forces Fuzzies to leave the valley that has nourished them, venturing out in small, vulnerable groups. Although Fuzzies have slowly lost their technical knowledge over centuries of struggling to survive in a hostile environment, they have retained the essentials: their intellect, their philosophy, their affection and support for each other, their sense of fun, their curiosity, and their sanity. They encounter hardship and loss but still keep going. Their point of view when they eventually encounter humans shows a different side of that story, too. Humans thought Fuzzies were mental children in a primitive society. These stories prove them wrong.