Conn Maxwell returns to his impoverished home planet of Poictesme, known as The Junkyard Planet, with tantalizing news about the potential whereabouts of Merlin‚Aîa legendary military super-computer believed to have been left behind after the last war. The desperate inhabitants see Merlin as their beacon of hope, a chance to transform their lives and escape poverty. But as they embark on this quest, they must grapple with the uncertainty of whether Merlin truly exists, and if found, whether it will be their salvation or their downfall. (by Mark Nelson)