For Dutch, who grew up in the wrong part of a planetside mining town,life in the Free Spacer nation is a dream come true. Its citizens live in warm spaceships, and everyone has clean water, bounteous food, and generous medical care. Dutch soon learns, however, that such comforts have a price, and those people who cannot conform to the Free Spacer society pay dearly. Adrift among unexpected dangers and treacherous family alliances, Dutch finds his best protection is with the man he has hated all of his life.