Nafai and Lady Rasa, the leaders of the city-state of Basilica, seek to implement the will of the Oversoul to mount an expedition to long-lost Earth. But now the ambitious and brilliant General Moozh, using the fruits of a forbidden technology and disregarding the Oversoul, is preparing to conquer Basilica for his own purposes. Sequel to "The memory of Earth" (Followed by "The ships of Earth" ).