Only one man ever survived contact with the Outsiders and Commander William Maudsley has always refused to speak of the horrors that destroyed his ship, murdered his crew, and left him a broken man. But there are always men willing to take great risks for the promise of great rewards: Derek Calver means to succeed where Maudsley failed. Despite the fears of his crew and vague rumors of terrible alien life beyond the rim, he will cross man's last frontier and enter the warped, unknown infinity "Outside."