It's hundreds of years in the future. All that remains are the Five Cities, a civilization tightly controlled by a mechanized force called The System. Traditional money no longer exists. The only currency is literal, physical space. This is the most precious commodity to the people of the Five Cities, handed out at a young age through something called The Test. The citizenry has been convinced that the greatest threat they face is each other. Anonymity and isolation are the most precious of treasures. Then there's Alder Tate. Alder is next in line to take the vaunted position of Administrator of The System, but something happens. Loneliness and the need for human connection drive him to sabotage his life of privilege. Alder's personal and seemingly innocuous decision sets off a chain of events that threatens to crumble the foundational beliefs held by all in the Five Cities. Enemies and "friends" come out of the woodwork, pulling at Alder from both sides. A brutal clash of ideologies is in the offing. Who and what will survive when the dust settles?