Essentially a remake of The Lord of the Flies with a less cynical ending.

The future is now and test tube babies are placed on a space craft to another planet, where by the time they arrive only their third generation will be extant. For Jack Merridew read, Zac, for Ralph read, Christopher Rebbs. Even has a "Kill the Beast" theme (updated to, "Kill the Alien"), and an innocent (Peter, the Flies equivalent to Simon) chased and bashed to death.

But while the Flies reader is left wondering who will rescue the rescuing soldier (and hence the world) from its enemies, the Voyagers crew resolves its differences and learns to live in harmony, arriving at its intended destination on schedule, 86 years after launch.