A hard science fiction masterpiece, perfect for fans of Kim Stanley Robinson, by one of the twentieth century's most brilliant-and neglected-writers, whom Stephen King called "the best writer of science fiction that England has ever produced."

What does the future hold for a species torn between exploration-the outward urge-and apparent self-destruction?

First published in 1959, The Outward Urge follows members of the Troon family as humanity extends its reach into space. The first vignette follows a Troon to a British space station in 1994; the next to the Moon bases as Earth experiences nuclear war; then to Mars and Venus landings, when Brazil is the only world power; and finally to the asteroids.