Panglor. Star Rigger Universe, #1

Blackmailed!Wrongly discredited as a space pilot, Panglor Balef is doomed to die in space, if sheer luck doesn't bring him through. But luck has never been in Panglor's cards. Bad enough to be coerced into a mission of murder and suicide, he must also contend with Alo-a young woman, stowaway, and impossible companion. Neither of them, nor his empathic ou-ralot, could possibly anticipate the journey through space-time they are about to embark on, through a door to an insane reality from which there is almost certainly no return.
It could be the discovery of the millennium, but the only way home is to journey even further into the heart of madness. The stunning prequel to the famed Star Rigger Universe of Jeffrey A. Carver, Nebula-nominated author of Eternity's End and The Chaos Chronicles. Reviews for Panglor:"An original and very charming novel, with a particularly unusual protagonist." -Publishers Weekly"Panglor is an interesting and different novel...
a fun read." -Future LifeReviews for other works by Jeffrey A. Carver:"Masterfully captures the joy of exploration." -Publishers Weekly"Jeffrey Carver imagines wonders and allows us to share his vision." -Terry Carr, editor of Universe and numerous "Best of the Year" anthologies"What is evident in Carver's work is a wonderful ability to deal sensitively with the interrelationships of characters and their environments." -Galileo Magazine"Carver writes powerfully and clearly and has produced a book that is likely to find an audience among hard SF readers." -Booklist"Carver is a strong SF writer, with a good feel for both the hard SF elements and the people he populates them with." -Amazing Stories"One of the few hard SF writers whose characters are as interesting as the deep science." -Melissa Scott, author of Dreamships and Trouble and Her Friends