Hugo Award Finalist: A mystery at the heart of a desert planet and its ruling class must be solved in this thrilling tale from a Grand Master of Science Fiction.

Brion Brandd has just triumphed in the planetary contest called the “Twenties, ”a series of physical and mental trials meant to push contestants to their limits. But before he can fully recover from these tests, he’s recruited by former Twenties champion Ihjel for a mission of utmost importance.

Brandd and Ihjel travel to the hellish desert planet of Dis, where the ruling class, known as the magter, have suddenly begun acting wildly aggressive and unpredictable, threatening the peace in the region. With a nuclear blockade surrounding Dis, Brandd and Ihjel are sent planetside to investigate.

Their pursuit will not be easy, for while the magter have seemingly lost their senses, the local population lives in total harmony with the brutal surroundings. What is it that separates the classes, yet also connects them? In this suspenseful novel by the author of Deathworld, Brandd will have to call on all of his formidable skills and gifts to uncover the truth—before both sides are annihilated.

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