Search the Sky
Author: Cyril M. Kornbluth, Frederik Pohl
Published: 1954
Halsey's Planet is in decline, and when a generation ship arrives, having
failed to contact six other planets, Ross is sent to discover the state of the
interstellar colonies. He is given a ship which can make the trip from colony
to colony almost instantaneously. The technology used in the ship has been kept
secret because it could give rise to interstellar war if one colony decided to
conquer others. However, the isolated populations are also affected by genetic
drift resulting in a decline in their societies. […]
(Wikipedia)