Summary:
"The Starmen" by Leigh Brackett is a science fiction novel written in the early 1950s. The story centers on Michael Trehearne, a man who feels disconnected and alone in his life, only to find himself embroiled in a mystery of identity that spans across worlds when he encounters a mysterious stranger named Kerrel and a captivating girl named Shairn. As Trehearne searches for his family roots and grapples with his existence, he discovers he is part of a secret lineage tied to the enigmatic Vardda people and the truth about interstellar life. At the start of the novel, Trehearne recalls a fateful evening in Brittany, where he meets Kerrel, a striking stranger with a notable resemblance to himself. This encounter ignites Trehearne’s quest to uncover his family's past, leading him to confront local prejudices and uncover the allure of Shairn, who shares a connection to both Kerrel and a heritage that fascinates and frightens him. The tension escalates as Trehearne gets pulled into a larger narrative involving ancient bloodlines, alien worlds, and the potential for remarkable transformation as he navigates the strange and powerful undercurrents of his newfound identity and the responsibilities it entails. (This is an automatically generated summary.)