Adam Worthington is an intelligent, courageous young man from a provincial, repressive planet that has reverted to a kind of fundamental Puritanism. By nature a free-thinker and individualist, Adam has a tough time of it until he's accepted at one of the Empire's great schools, the University of Sol on Mars. Then he's off on the greatest adventure of his life.

His journey through space includes dining with aliens, air swimming, a hijacking, a space trial, and an attempted murder. He finally arrives on campus, where he must face further challenges before his first year of classes begin.

A Young Adult Literary Guild Selection.