Branded! One moment of treachery and all Case's hopes, all his aspirations for citizenship and status are shattered. Publicly shamed and despised as a coward, Case's bitter hatred of his home world and longing for revenge on its rulers make him a willing tool of those who conspire to topple the government of earth. In his eagerness to humiliate those who destroyed him, Case embarks on a perilous voyage through space and intrigue only to finally discover he has betrayed his own goals.