Icar – illustratör

Paul and Professor Stanford's archaeological expedition is exploring the ruins of Altair in an effort to understand how the people who built them vanished altogether. Protected from various dangers by their deadly guardian angel the Stepanerk, they make some decidedly unexpected discoveries. Until Paul is reminded of his original quest, that is, when a bounty hunter asks for his help tracking down his lost father - who's wanted for murder.

Abandoned amidst a hostile wilderness, Paul has been rescued by a biologist, Mr Amid. The scientist is studying the pearls that are Altair's true wealth - and more particularly the plants that produce them and that appear to be dying off. Amid offers to take on Paul as his assistant, but the young man is still looking for his father. As he follows the trail, Paul becomes tougher and more inured to life on his new planet - and to human nature.

Paul has learned that his father died in an accident - then, a few days later, he's seen him pass by in a car, alive and well! Shaken by the discovery, the young man continues his investigation and eventually manages to track him down. Unfortunately, that merely causes him to share in his father's serious troubles... Meanwhile, an increasing number of strange phenomena plague Altair - and awake the interest of the alien Stephanerks...

The Stepanerks, those strange aliens who sometimes mingle with Humans, have contacted another, as yet undiscovered, alien species that has been guarding Altair for centuries. Those guardians want to forcefully evict Humans, who are doing terrible damage to the ecosystem. But Paul, unwitting 'guest' at their meeting, defended Humanity's right to a second chance. It now falls to him to convince the Human colonial authorities to change everyone's behaviour...