The story takes place in a
region of the galaxy where a race of men called the Tyrani has imposed their
rule on an interstellar empire. The leader of one planet has been involved in
a secret opposition to the empire. When the Tyrani learn of this, he is
arrested (and shortly thereafter executed). His son has been a college student
on Earth (outside the Tyrani empire). The son awakes one night and finds he
has been locked into his dorm room with a radiation bomb due to go off
shortly. With the help of one of his father's colleagues in the opposition, he
gets out of the room and leaves Earth.
This begins a series of moves
in which the son is maneuvered by the opposition, the Tyrani, puppets of the
Tyrani and others. On the way, he is joined by two companions. There’s the
daughter of another planet's leader (who wishes to avoid a marriage of
political convenience). She becomes the romantic interest. And there’s her
uncle (who says he once stumbled upon a planet planning to fight the Tyrani).
Eventually, they find themselves
on a search to find the rebel planet. Unfortunately, they are on a stolen
Tyrani spaceship which has a tracking device in it. The various players try to
outsmart the others. The Tyrani are quietly following in hopes of capturing
more of the opposition. Others have devious approaches and secrets. Three
clever minds pit themselves against each other.
The book had a good pace, and
interesting twists & turns; but is not so memorable afterwards.