A Song for Lya

Two telepaths carry out a secret mission on a distant planet that, by a fatal coincidence, is stuck in the Bronze Age.
They need to find out why an increasing number of Earth colonists are turning to the local religion, famous for alien and horrifying rituals.

Martin writes very well—deeply and beautifully—about human feelings and relationships.
On the planet of Ski, you’ll encounter exotic food, sounds and smells, beautiful girls, and strange cultural customs.
Ugly things and death in their most unappealing form, as well as the philosophy of higher love and universal Unity.

The novella won the Hugo Award in 1975. In the original, the title sounds like “Song for Lya”—that is, “A Song for Lya,” which better reflects the essence of the work.