On a distant planet, students confront the overbearing restrictions on their lives. One of them emerges as a leader who will listen to them and speak for them, igniting their sense of the future and the positive role that they can play in it. That young man is an artist whose honesty and endless questions put his own career in jeopardy.

Landor will not back down when he sees possibilities in his actions. He leads a prayer vigil to transmit the hope that he feels to endangered astronauts. He gets the security guards to join them. He gets the dean to approve their plans for a student mural. He moves forward as others make plans to harness his talents for their own ends. For now he must live amidst watchers and censors, but he believes that he is part of a process of change. He must ignore those who opt for conformity and blame him for the difficulties on campus. He has the backing of his friend Arbitus and wise Professor Veritas.

Landor's most important supporter speaks to him in imaginary encounters. Landor sees the man behind the stern image of the overseer, Elucidor, who must overcome his doubts about Landor's ideas. The issues are simpler when Elucidor considers and helps the campus activists.

Proclivius, ruler of the security domain, finds himself in several imaginary encounters. Characters engage in discussions and encounters. Proclivius avoids changing himself or his policies. He can live with the new student newspaper and free art shows as long as he wields the power over people built into society itself.

Sign up now to get the most out of Books2Read

Discover something great at Books2Read.

Thanks for signing up for Books2Read notifications!