Toby Manders is a bored sixteen-year-old Earth immigrant to Hobson's Planet who is tired of living the quiet life of a farmer. After running away from his father and home, he becomes close friends with Jar Kensch, a native Walber boy. He and Jar, who has family troubles of his own, get themselves entangled in the feud going on between the Earth immigrants and the Catonians, conquerors of Hobson's Planet.Can Toby resolve the trouble he and Jar get into, resolve his estrangement from his father and avoid the boring life he left behind?