The novel, which explores the associations among a bunch of families, equally royal rather than, who Regulate planets in an interplanetary society, consists of themes of ecology, faith, humanity and technological know-how which is incredibly astute for any novel released some 50 odd yrs in the past. I'm with you. http://sci-fibookseries20874.blogsidea.com/11788408/what-does-sci-fi-book-series-mean