Liberator of North Africa, charismatic conqueror of Islam, in reality he is Homer Crawford, "turncoat" black American sociologist who is determined to lead the Dark Continent into the modern age by whatever means are necessary. Arrayed against him are all the forces of the status quo: the combined military might of the North African states, mercenary hirelings of corrupt oil sheikdoms, Moslem religious fanatics, and the American CIA. Only the people are for El Hassan, and they, only so long as he is victorious.