By the workings of chance Bleys Ahrens was born the genetic equal of Hal
Mayne, the hero of The Final Encyclopedia, but he was destined by
nurture to a far different fate. Raised alone by his unhappy Exotic
mother, Bleys was an outcast from every society until his half-brother
Dahno claimed him. Disciplined by Friendlies, schooled by Exotics, Dahno
was beginning to build an interplanetary network of half-breeds, who
called themselves "Others." But Dahno thought only of gaining wealth and
power for himself; Bleys saw an opportunity to challenge the Dorsai for
control of the Human Worlds.