World of Promise — E.C. Tubb

Ascelius was an academic world, whose primary business was teaching the knowledge of the thousands of worlds, and housing great universities and colleges, populated by students and scholars from all over the galaxy. Such a world was surely the place to learn of the legendary planet called Earth.

Dumarest went to Ascelius, and, indeed, he found that there had once been a study group for Earth lore. To find the remnants of it, to seek out the discarded files of their discussions, was not easy. Not when the dreaded Cyber already had a toe-hold on Ascelius, and genetic engineering of man and monster was the latest fad.

But Dumarest was not a quitter. Whatever the tests might demand, he would not flunk out although it might mean death for others--and possibly himself.