Inside a crumbling futuristic society, Globe is only a myth, the technological advances of centuries have faded into distant storage, and space travel depends upon a fleet of run-down, unreliable ships. Only the brave-or foolhardy-undertake such risky journeys. The brave, the foolhardy-and the athletes .

Jak Rebo is one such runner, whose current work is to provide a future spiritual leader to his people, while avoiding assassins. In the event that’s not enough, he gets involved with a very gorgeous woman who holds the trick to instantaneous travel between star systems-a secret that some would destroy for.

With death waiting at every slot, Jak soon realizes that this time he is running for his life . . .