Synopsis: From the front flat of the Allen and Unwin edition: "Strange reports of sightings of fiery fragments streaking across the night skies over Rhomary - distant outpost of the galaxy inhabited by descendants of a crew from planet Earth, shipwrecked nearly two hundred years before - have reached the ears of the Dator of Rhomary, Maxim Bro, collector of information about past worlds and lives. Now, watched over by the Vail - the wise sentient beings who inhabit the great Western Sea - Maxim Bro leads a band of explorers in search of their ancient past, and to find the answer to a dream prophecy - that men from Earth will some day come again in a rain of fire!"