As a new graduate of the Anthropological Service Academy, a starspanning organization dedicated to studying life across the universe, Elana is assigned to a dangerous, deadly case. The planet Toris, a Youngling society far less mature than Elana’s own world, is in a Critical Stage, that vital and precarious time in their history when they could either achieve space travel and escape the bounds of their world, or destroy themselves in a nuclear war. Elana’s job, as hard and amoral as it might seem, is to blend in, and to watch, doing nothing to alter or hinder progress. Should Toris perish, she would be rescued, but she must never break away from, nor reveal, her observer, alien status. No matter what her conscience says.

Her fellow agent on this mission, Randil, has a different idea altogether: to save the Torisians from destroying themselves in a Cold War-provoked armageddon, he’ll provide them with proof of space flight, giving them one of the Service’s own shuttles. And in doing so, he could spark the very thing he wishes to avoid. Only Elana has the knowledge and determination to sacrifice herself and save the world, and she can’t use her psychic powers or ability to resist harm in any way, or reveal her true nature.

Originally published in 1971 at the height of the Space Race, during the middle of Earth’s own Critical Stage, The Far Side of Evil is an unusually thoughtful, introspective allegory which posits the evolutionary essentialness of achieving space flight and establishing extraterrestrial colonies as a way of cultural growth and survival. Though dated by social trends and historical events of the past thirty years, it still remains a gripping, provocative work that tries to explain why we can’t remain tied to our home world forever. While this book is related to Engdahl’s previous work, Enchantress from the Stars, to the extent of sharing the same protagonist, this is a darker, more mature, more direct book, and not as well suited for younger readers. Elana is put through some fairly intense torture, psychological and emotional, and the issues raised are relatively complex. However, those readers able to handle such themes will likely enjoy the moral debate which fuels the story’s progress. As far as science fiction with social messages go, The Far Side of Evil is a strong, powerful story and well worth reading.