Transcending Venus

Professor of astronomy Hobart R Hobshott has a string of degrees and titles behind his name long enough to reach from one side of his desk to the other. He has made his mark in the academic world, and now it's time to retire, perhaps even a little past time. Although now a widower and in declining health, Hobart is satisfied with his lot. His career was a success. His personal life has been a happy one. He plans to spend the rest of his days dabbling in watercolours and messing about in the garden, but a few things are bothering him.

Hobart's most ambitious student has begun his own career, but he hasn't been doing it by building on Hobart's own work, in fact building on it is the opposite of what he has been doing. Hobart's other student has the opposite problem: no ambition, no career and no idea about how to start one.

In addition to his academic problems, Hobart has a couple that are definitely non-academic. One is the attractive lady dean whose relationship with Hobart lacks warmth, unless burning hatred counts as warmth. The other is a grocery store checkout girl with a misguided enthusiasm for tales of alien encounters. She's asked for help with a coded book left her by her uncle, an alien hunter. Alien hunters are not the kind of people a respectable astronomer should associate with, but Hobart is retiring, so he will have time on his hands. Besides, what harm could come if it?