"His followers called him Mahasamatman and said he was a god. He preferred to drop the Maha- and the -atman, however, and called himself Sam. He never claimed to be a god. But then, he never claimed not to be a god" (Chapter 1, p. 1).

"Mara's teeth bared ina snarl. His neck was as thick as a bull's. His biceps were as big about as a man's thighs. his chest was a barrel of strength and his legs were like great trees of the forest" (Chapter 1, p. 26).

"One time a minor rajah from a minor principality came with his retinue into Mahartha, the city that is called Gateway of the South and Capital of the Dawn, there to purchase a new body" (Chapter 2, p. 37).

"They are not ready, and will not be for many centuries. If they were to be exposed to an advanced technology at this point, the...