Robinette Broadhead is the richest man in the world, but he didn't start out that way, and his path to wealth has left some scars that only his AI therapist can help him heal. We follow his path from nutrient-miner to the abandoned alien colony of Gateway, where explorers board ships they barely understand on journeys that are often fatal, all in the hopes of striking it rich. Rob's fears lead him to hiding, avoiding his first expedition until his funds run dry, and then a string of bad luck and miserable self-loathing lead him even deeper into despair. As his story approaches the point of explaining his wealth, however, tensions begin to grow, and it's clear that Rob wants nothing more than to avoid admitting his deepest shames to his therapist.

What a cool fuckin' book! It's so rare to have a protagonist who is a real genuine bastard, and who you can still find some sympathy with. It's also rare to find an alien world so well realized, with so little explained, without ever feeling like a puzzle you need to solve. Through all of the fantastical and futuristic, this story is anchored solidly in one deeply flawed man, desperate to embody his avoidance of responsibility, not because he wants to avoid consequences, but because he wants to avoid forgiveness that might come with admitting his own guilt.

Pohl still struggles to write women, though.