First published 1984
Jason dinAlt finds himself trapped on an unknown world where survival means constant violence. The planet operates under brutal rules: kill your enemies or become their slave. The inhabitants swing wildly between Bronze Age barbarism and Machine Age complexity from one moment to the next. Ancient technologies survive as closely guarded secrets, each controlled by different brotherhoods who refuse to share their knowledge. These competing groups hoard their mysteries while the population suffers under primitive conditions. Jason recognizes his desperate situation. As a professional gambler, he understands odds and strategy better than most. He realizes that his only chance of survival lies in disrupting the existing power structure. The brotherhoods must be forced to work together if he wants to win this deadly game. Jason must use his skills to shuffle the deck and create new alliances among these secretive groups.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, underdog
Setting: Unknown World
Period: Bronze Age, Machine Age
160 pages · Hardcover · Sphere
Content warnings: violence