In The Witches of Karres, the plot focuses on Captain Pausert of Nikkeldepain, a young shiphandler who takes an old exploration ship out into the wide galaxy to redeem his dwindling fortunes and win the esteem of his fiancee's family so that he can return to that stuffy commercial planet, marry, and settle down to be the most ordinary of citizens. In the course of his journey he does a good deed, and because no good deed ever goes unpunished, the captain is forced into a new path of self-discovery.

By making his protagonist a galactic ship's captain, Schmitz is able to demonstrate the complexities of navigating among the stars, running a small commercial venture, getting to know one's allies from one's opponents, and surviving local politics long enough to make a profit. The young man must also decide over the course of the novel to which community...