This novel is a unique blend of six different stories, each set in a different time and place, spanning from the 19th century South Pacific to a post-apocalyptic future. Each tale is written in a different style, reflecting the time and setting it represents, and they are all connected through shared themes and recurring motifs. The stories are nested within each other, with each interrupted by the next, only to be concluded in the second half of the book. The novel explores themes of predacity, civilization, reincarnation and the eternal recurrence of the same behaviors throughout history.

This novel is a gripping tale of ambition, sacrifice, and the human spirit's relentless pursuit of greatness. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War space race, it follows the life of Yefgenii Yeremin, an orphan from the streets of post-war Russia, who rises through the ranks of the Soviet Air Force to become a top pilot. Despite his exceptional skills, Yeremin is shunned by his peers and superiors, leading him to undertake a perilous mission that could alter the course of history. Through his journey, the book explores themes of isolation, the cost of ambition, and the quest for recognition, culminating in a dramatic climax that questions the very essence of heroism and sacrifice.