Synopsis: "Here in the form of a handbook for Terran field agents is a detailed look at Uplift's many alien races - from the friendly Tymbrimi to the warlike Tandu, from the wise and enigmatic Kanten to the fiercely reptilian Soro, from the bureaucratic Hoon to the manipulative Thennanin - their physiology, psychology, history; their clans and alliances; and their shifting attitudes towards Earth and its representatives. Here, too, is a history of Earth's contact and challenging interactions with the mysterious and powerful Civilization of the Five Galaxies, a look at its institutions, languages, and customs, plus a time line of momentous events going back 3 billion years. For the millions of fans of the Uplifts novels, this long-awaited guide will be an essential reference work, filled with vital information and never-before-seen illustrations that reveal, for the first time in one volume, the keys to the ambitious vision and bold speculation of the Uplift universe." - From the back cover of the 2002 paperback edition.