David Falkayn: Star Trader — Poul Anderson

The Polesotechnic League of star traders was prospering, and Nicholas Van Rijn, its most flamboyant member, was prospering most of all. But not all League members played fair when trading, nor did some of the non-human races of the galaxy object to dirty tricks. And Van Rijn could not be everywhere at once to flummox his competitors and adversaries. Fortunately, he could rely on his crack team of star traders.

David Falkayn: Team leader and younger son of a baronial house on the planet Hermes. Earlier, he had passed a trial-by-fire, and now has been given his own ship, Mudd Through, and a most unusual crew.

Chee Lan: covered with silky white fur on the outside, and with a short-fused temper on the inside.

Adzel: Looking like a centaurian dragon, he's as imperturbable as Chee Lan is high-strung, and abhorred violence even before becoming a Buddhist, though he has no problem defending himself, or his comrades.

Muddlehead: The computer who handles most of the operations of the ship. It often shows initiative at the most unexpected times, sometimes exasperating the organic members of the team, but outsmarting the bad guys at other times. Now if only it didn't sound so smug, particularly when it wins at poker... .