The century is 10,000, Earth Dating. The boundaries of the known world of the twentieth century have expanded beyond belief, beyond thought. Earth still remains, but as one of many planets throughout the galaxies, where a myriad of life forms exist.

Life has turned in a new direction, to a new future, but there are still problems to overcome, still the same struggle for survival.

And Ryder Hook is just one Earthman who is at home in a star-ship, on an alien planet, or on Earth. But he has been singled out for a purpose - to take part in a singular experiment...