Read The Escape Orbit Storyline:
--an Amazon reviewer:This may be my favorite Sci-Fi book of all time. It may have also been the first Sci-Fi book I ever read. James White has created a prisoner of war camp that is a whole planet. How do you escape from a planet where your captor restricts your technology to the bronze age level and most of the "prisoners" have long since stopped regarding themselves as soldiers. James White makes the attempt seem plausible and exciting. It reminds me of a Sci-Fi "The Great Escape". And, he also pulls a twist at the end that wraps the book up nicely and makes you rethink the rest of the book. I know it's not in stock, but try to find it! While it's different than White's Sector General stories, he still instills the attention to detail that makes his SG stories authentic.Pages of The Escape Orbit :