In the distant future the humanity is subject to meticulous control and class segregation. The criterion for belonging to one of the classes is IQ, determined at birth according to measurements of synaptic density of the brain. Permits to have a child are issued by committees that severely assess the physical and mental health of future parents, and marriages between castes are prohibited. The young librarian, Leeta finds herself accidentally at the center of political game and as the only witness to an attack on members of the global government she becomes a threat to many prominent figures. Her protector, Citizen Hakat, decides to send the girl to the moon, to an industrial city where she would be safer than on Earth. The city of Lunnaria is completely dependent on supplies from Earth and theoretically falls under its jurisdiction, but it is really ruled by large mining corporations. Leeta gets assigned to the local police.

Can an artificial intelligence not just think, but also feel? Do androids have a soul?In a not-so-distant future, Earth is slowly being reborn in the wake of an ecological catastrophe, but that rebirth is not happening fast enough. With her faithful android companion at her side, school teacher Etta must embark upon a dangerous mission to the stars to save everyone, human and android alike. Before they can begin their monumental quest to the stars, they must face a warzone of intrigue, prejudice, and their own family. In the end, who will prove to be more human: man or machine?

When the convoy takes off, the crews of the spacecraft flotilla learn that they are in fact being sent beyond the boundaries of the solar system, to a planet discovered relatively recently, and equipped with its own little sun. They have to spend almost two years traveling instead of the month previously planned. Initially, people are doing well, but as time goes on, frustration and unbelief in the mission's success increases. Captain Kirk Willner must fight not only objective difficulties, but unrest among five convoy ship's crews separated from each other, as well as suddenly emerging saboteurs who want to prevent the ship's arrival at their destination. Trapped in cramped spaces, people are helped by androids. AIs are not emotional, are resistant to extreme external conditions and, what is very important, are able to make decisions on their own.