Land and Overland—twin worlds a few thousand miles apart. On Land, humanity faces a threat to its very survival—an airborne species, the ptertha, has declared war on humankind and is actively hunting for victims. The only hope lies in migration. Through space to Overland. By balloon. The Ragged Astronauts—first volume in an epic adventure filled with memorable characters, intense action, engaging notions, exotic locales.

In the sequel to "The Ragged Astronauts, twenty-three years after the escape to Overland, the survivors of that exodus find themselves menaced by the ruthless ruler of Land, who threaten to unleash the devastating plague that had nearly destroyed them once before

Just when Toller Maraquine II - grandson of the hero of "The Ragged Astronauts" and "The Wooden Spaceships" - thinks that life on the twin planets of Land and Overland has become dull and boring, and that the adventurous times of his illustrious ancestor are gone forever, he discovers a rapidly growing crystal disk, miles in diameter, creating a barrier between the two worlds. Armed only with his sword and boundless courage, Toller goes to investigate, unaware that he is about to decide the future of entire planets and their civilizations.