This outstanding classic of science fiction which won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards when first published, is the story of Winter, an Earth-like planet with two major differences. Conditions are semi-arctic even at the warmest time of the year, and the inhabitants are all of the same sex. Tucked away in a remote corner of the universe they have no knowledge of space travel or life beyond their own world. And when a strange envoy from space brings news of a vast coalition of planets which they are invited to join, he is met with fear, mistrust and disbelief...