Emotions run high as people scramble for a place or deride and sabotage the efforts of the star-goers. Amidst this mystery Chris, a researcher selecting material for the ships databanks, faces turmoil in his personal life. At times it's rather perceptive, like it's depiction of a army of researchers selecting and organising what cultural data the ship takes. And yet there are disatisfactions. The ethics of this act are never really dwelt upon.
People offer massive temptations and bribes to get on the ships crew.
How a fair selection procedure can occur is unclear. While the practicality of group marriages are unquestioned, every one we experience is dysfunctional in some way. And the anti-exodus rebels never transcend an early typecasting as selfish and dimwitted fanatics. There's a massive MacGuffin that a large part of the plot concerns and that is revealed towards the end. Perhaps i've read too many books with similar twists, but i saw it coming from a long distance.