Friendship X : Book 1 of The Friendship Sagas

This story is set about a hundred and fifty years after the events in The Gandhi Collection, and follows the early years of the sapient space tree Exhilaration, detailing his growth and adventures, from when he is a tiny seedling called Weed by his unkind peers, to when he finally sets out to achieve his destiny. He becomes recognised as the first Friendship X in the Space Corps, and has four unique Pals, the smaller trees who serve as shuttles to their larger cousin, as well as a multispecies crew.