(Found) SF book about exploring the galaxy

[D_brane]

Hi,

I read a book a few years ago that I'd like to re read. Unfortunately I've moved house and lost my copy and I can't remember the name or author of the book.

What I remember of the book is as follows: The main character is a man called Adamson who is sent from earth as a 'probe rider,' in order to see if there is any other life in the galaxy. To cross the great distances involved there is a system where Adamson's body is dissolved in a tank and his conciousness is stored somewhere, and then reconstituted when he needs to be woken up. In one of these spells in the tank he has a dream about a woman called Laura that becomes a plot point later on in the book. After a mostly fruitless search of many planets Adamson encounters a gaseous life form called Protia, who then travels with him. I think he decides to take her back to earth and on the way he meets another probe rider called Thead, who becomes the main antagonist in the book.

I don't think this is a very famous or even very good book, so it may have had quite a limited release. I remember quite enjoying it though. Thanks.

 

[K. Riehl]

Perhaps it is Another End by Vincent King?

Here is the Fantastic Fiction link with a cover shot

Another End by Vincent King

 

[D_brane]

Yes! That's it, thank you so much!

 

[PaulMmn]

The 'dissolved in a tank of liquid and reconstituted' sounds remarkably like one of the main plot points in "Macroscope," by Piers Anthony...
.
--Paul E Musselman

 

[stratospheric]

Hi all.

For the last few years I was in exactly the same predicament trying to find the name for this book and author. I read it at the age of 15 when doing my O-levels and could only ever remember some of the plot including the name Adamson.

As I recall, Adamson became very depressed during his eternally fruitless search and tried committing suicide on several ocassions only to be saved each time by Protia - a sort of pergatory for immortality.

Thank you, both of you for this serendipitous find. I will search and read again.