Far above the planet Florinia, the elite rulers of Sark live in luxury and privilege. Below them, the native Florinians toil endlessly in the planet’s constant spring climate, harvesting the rare and valuable kyrt fiber that sustains Sark’s wealth. Any idea of rebellion is not only forbidden but unimaginable—Florinians have long since lost the very notion of freedom. Moreover, any disruption in kyrt production could provoke interplanetary unrest, risking economic collapse and even galactic war. As a result, the Trantorian Empire—committed to unifying humanity under peace and liberty—has looked the other way, allowing Sark’s domination to continue.
Among the laborers lives Rik, a man stripped of his past and memory. Once abducted and mentally broken, Rik was found barely functional and is now viewed as a harmless fool by the Florinian workers. But as fragments of his past resurface, Rik becomes obsessed with a dire warning he must share: Florinia faces total destruction, carried by the mysterious Currents of Space. Evacuating the planet would end Sark’s control—making Rik a threat some would rather silence. As danger grows, the survival of Florinia, and perhaps the entire Galaxy, depends on whether his message is heard.