Perils of the Gulf — E. Robert Dunn

Just imagine worlds in which harmony between peoples has been established, where families are cultured and treasured, where species from different worlds commune in peace. Imagine further these worlds having resolved all misunderstandings surrounding sexuality, a series of planets where same-gender Echelon relationships are the majority and opposite-gender Reproductionist couplings are seen as necessary only to propagate a species. Now, imagine this civilization on the verge of extending itself into unexplored space…sending out the cream of their generation to colonize the unknown. In Echelon's End Book 4: Perils of the Gulf, as the hurrying podship Pioneer 4 traverses between the galactic spiral arms on its way to a promised planet, the cost is energy, which is quickly being consumed -- denying it the power to sustain itself. The Aidennians find themselves with no other option than to explore two separate sources for vital elements needed to prolong their flight. Nicraan and Retho find themselves the tempest between warring societal factions while Capel and the others fight for their lives on worlds of ice and horror. Is this the end for the last generation of The System?