Destiny's Road   by Larry Niven

An interesting rather than exciting book. It's completely planet-bound, and it's one of those stories about two races with one holding rule over the other through the controlled supply of narcotics (I think the idea has been played out on Star Trek a couple of times).

However, it is very cleverly done, and the details with which a population, its culture, and the environment in which it thrives are described are painstaking and emminently believable. It's not exciting, but surprises come at a ready, steady rate as the landscape and story is slowly unfolded and exposed in front of you. Very enjoyable.