Starman's Quest by Robert Silverberg Science Fiction Adventure Space Opera

<p><strong>The Lexman Spacedrive gave man the stars -- but at a fantastic price.</strong> Interstellar exploration colonization and trade became things of reality. The benefits to Earth were enormous. But because of the Fitzgerald Contraction a man who shipped out to space could never live a normal life on Earth again.</p><p>Travelling at speeds close to that of light spacemen lived at an accelerated pace. A nine-year trip to Alpha Centauri and back seemed to take only six weeks to men on a spaceship. When they returned their friends and relatives had aged enormously in comparison old customs had changed even the language was different.</p><p>Alan was a spacer just like his whole family -- until suddenly and without intending to he in turn jumped ship and remained on Earth!</p><p>There were times he regretted that. Earth was a bewildering and utterly hostile place. To stay alive he had to play a ruthless game -- and he couldn't even find anyone to tell him the rules. . . .</p>