Hi
I read this book in the mid-late 90s.
Genre - sci fi.
Cover - lots of yellow/orange with a space ship on it. Paperback. 300-400 pages maybe?
Plot - human-like alien species is going through planned evolution - requires a large number of consecutive generations to breed males successfully in a line, to achieve the next level of evolution. If a female is born instead the like has to start from the beginning again. The book opens with this already having been achieved for a single individual. The protagonist is 1 or 2 generations away from the same level of evolution and is the closest alive to this - however, as this has already been achieved he isn't really relevant - the male already bred can breed with the existing females and will result in offspring with the new level of evolution. The protagonist leaves his planet and comes to Earth, and works for a militaristic organisation as a pilot (I think)
Things that stand out - the book mentions physiological differences between humans and this species - namely that the species is more evolved and this is evident in blood pressure not changing whether they stand or lie down. It also refers to the circadian rhythms.
Thanks very much for your help!
I read this book in the mid-late 90s.
Genre - sci fi.
Cover - lots of yellow/orange with a space ship on it. Paperback. 300-400 pages maybe?
Plot - human-like alien species is going through planned evolution - requires a large number of consecutive generations to breed males successfully in a line, to achieve the next level of evolution. If a female is born instead the like has to start from the beginning again. The book opens with this already having been achieved for a single individual. The protagonist is 1 or 2 generations away from the same level of evolution and is the closest alive to this - however, as this has already been achieved he isn't really relevant - the male already bred can breed with the existing females and will result in offspring with the new level of evolution. The protagonist leaves his planet and comes to Earth, and works for a militaristic organisation as a pilot (I think)
Things that stand out - the book mentions physiological differences between humans and this species - namely that the species is more evolved and this is evident in blood pressure not changing whether they stand or lie down. It also refers to the circadian rhythms.
Thanks very much for your help!
