Emperor, Swords, Pentacles

All is not well on Qsaprinel. The normally peaceful world, ruled by crustacean-like creatures blessed with a dry wit and the philosophical good sense of a Mahatma Gandhi, has suddenly turned up "Classified" on all Federation records. Duncan Kinnear isn't an important Federation investigator—but then Qsaprinel isn't an important planet. Besides, Kinnear has a modest record of success in odd jobs where even the problem is unclear, to say nothing of the solution. And, he has some unlikely allies: the big red cats called Ungrukh—dangerous, telepathic, and fiercely loyal to their friends. Kinnear saved their world; they will help him save this one—even though the natives do look more like crayfish than one normally expects of a race of philosophers, and are not good to eat. With the help of a psychic reader of Tarot cards and a chilling rumour about mutant humans (not inclined even slightly toward philosophy) on Qsaprinel, Kinnear and company are on their way.