When Hal Southerland, a socially isolated computer contracts manager nearing retirement at a federal agency in Atlanta, spots a curious anomaly on an astronomy website, he realizes aliens are coming. A slip of the tongue before it becomes public knowledge results in Hal being chosen by the aliens to serve in a very special role: king of the planet. The catch is that Earth is on the verge of environmental disaster, and this very special role has a very special task: to choose which four billion humans will be "Disappeared" to preserve the oxygen essential for both human and alien survival.

What follows is a series of missteps on the path toward creating a world where the aliens and humans can live together in peace. Will Hal and his alien "liaison" Angie (who looks a lot like Marilyn Monroe) find a way for humans and aliens to live side by side? Or will the mistakes continue in this clash of civilizations?