The Wave and the Flame — Marjorie Bradley Kellogg

The planet Fiix has a climate of
bizarre extremes which defies
conventional scientific
explanation. An expedition from
Earth, expecting to find a
desert
planet, instead finds itself
marooned in the middle of a
savage winter. The local
population, the Sawls, are small
and apparently primitive
creatures; but while Emil
Clausen
- mineral company representative
in search of profits from the
planet's lithium deposits - and
planetologist Tay Danforth are
missing, presumed dead, after
being caught in ferocious
floods,
other scientists start to learn
that the Sawl's have a complex
and surprisingly advanced
culture. In particular, linguist
Stavros Ibia begins to identify
with the Sawl's and determines
to
protect their planet from
commercial exploitation, and to
gain an understanding of their
theological and historical
roots.