Colors of Space

Published in 1963, 'Colors of Space' by Marion Zimmer Bradley follows Bart Steele, a graduate of Space Academy, as he navigates interstellar travel amidst the secrets of the alien race Lhari. Humans can only travel aboard Lhari ships in cold sleep, while a genetically enhanced group known as the Mentorians can perceive a broader spectrum of light, including an 'eighth color.' As a half-Mentorian, Bart disguises himself to infiltrate a Lhari vessel, aiming to uncover the secret of the Warp Drive, a quest that has thwarted many before him. The novel explores themes of identity and the complexities of interspecies communication.