High adventure and intrigue await in this classic work of science
fiction from critically acclaimed Tripods author John Christopher.
After the disastrous Breakdown of the twenty-first century, the world
has made a change. Now, in the twenty-third century, all cities are
ordered and sterile, carefully balanced, protected, and isolated from
the uncivilized Outlands.
Clive Anderson, the son of a politician, lives a privileged life in one
of the cities until he is falsely accused of committing a crime. As
punishment he is sent to a training island, where he is supposed to be
re-taught how to be an unquestioning member of society, like everyone
else in the cities.
But Clive and his friends manage to escape the island, making their way
into the forbidden and unknown Outlands, where they are captured by the
legendary Wild Jack and his troop of savages. At first, Clive is happy
to be part of this wild group, but soon he realizes that things are not
at all what they seem...