This book takes place about ten years after A Meeting at Corvallis. The focus has switched to a younger set of characters, the first generation to grow up after the “Change”, the event that knocked the world back into the Dark Ages.

A traveler arrives in Oregon from the East, bearing a compelling prophecy that requires Rudi Mackenzie to travel to Nantucket, the apparent source of the Change. A group of nine (the number is tra­di­tion­al) head eastwards. But the fanatical Church Universal and Triumphant wants to stop them.

Plenty of action keeps the story moving as Stirling continues to explore the ram­i­fi­ca­tions of his post-apoc­a­lyp­tic scenario.