This book is named as one of the top five SF novels people pretend to have read. Well, I'm glad I made the effort to read it. Beautifully written with a simple premise. I enjoy classic SF that keeps things narrowly focused. There is no need to explain everything just try to answer/question one possible scenario. There is a lot of religious fervor but it's done without preaching to the reader. It's the direction Brackett chose in this instance. The book's theme and morals are still valid today 60 years later.