Carl Lempi had the nerve to talk back to his machine. That marked him for investigation in the sterile computer-run future of World-Fed. Carl's defiance turned out to be just one of innumerable breakdowns that were rapidly undermining the world's highest civilization.

But Fate - and the plans of a hidden race of star-descended men - had a special place for Carl Lempi. For his rebellion was the start of a quest, a journey back through the dimensions to the source of the world's yrouble - an outer-space antagonist hinted at in the oldest legends of mankind - and Carl, alone, was to hold the earth's last hope in his hands.