Woodworld is a 'lodestone world', a planet with a magnetic field so strong that it can pluck spaceships out of the sky. Which is exactly what happens to Maxy, the youngest cadet in the space fleet. Stranded on a planet where metal is useless and technology primitive, he can only wait and hope to be rescued. Luckily, the Wudans who give Maxy shelter are friendly, peaceful people. But they have enemies, the warlike Credans and Masgarians, and when another Earthman comes to Woodworld and teaches the Masgarians how to make modern weapons, the Wudans seem doomed - unless Maxy can help them...