Beyond the Gates

From the back cover of the Roc first edition: "Few native species exist on the sand-whipped world of Dray's Planet, home of the Children of the Second Revelation. And few people know about the ones that do live there. For the Children have cut themselves off from the rest of the galaxy for fear of their religion becoming "contaminated" by Unbelievers. But when a graduate student named Marta discovers a strange creature that cannot be classified, two rival scientists - both Unbelievers - are brought onto Dray's Planet to help identify it. Denying her religious beliefs, Marta guides them to the forbidden continent of her homeworld to determine the creature's origin. But soon, the scientists' ruthless quest for personal glory traps Marta in a race not only to discover the truth, but to escape with it - alive..."