During the Napoleonic wars, a Spanish officer and an opposing officer find a book written by the former's grandfather.
Pirx, an experienced pilot, is hired to go on a top-secret mission to evaluate some 'nonlinears' (an experimental model of android) for use as crewmembers on future space flights. Pirx and this intriguing crew are sent out to launch two satellites into the rings of Saturn, but he is determined to find out and identify a hostile unhuman coworker among them.
An ironic look at a climber who decides to do anything to get a job he thinks will launch him into a better career.
