This is a tremendous sci-fi saga of Earth in the future when mankind is all but extinct. An alien race runs the planet and humans are rarely if ever seen, so much so that they are thought to be extinct by the aliens.

This book follows the story of an alien, stuck running a mining operation for his planet on Earth. This position was not a reward. He could be stuck here forever if he doesn't figure out a way to get back to his home planet and he also has to figure out how, on his return, he is rich for the rest of his life.

Then we meet the remnants of a band of humans living in the hills. They have myths about monsters that have built up over many years. This has kept them scratching out a living and bringing them closer and closer to the brink of extinction.

One young man realizes that if they are to exist they have to move out of the area because there seems to be a mysterious sickness that is causing people to be killed off and no babies to be born. He decides against all odds to venture down into the lowlands and find a new life for his people to hopefully start a new life. This is where he meets and confronts the monsters that he has heard of all his life.

Hubbard does a supreme job of creating a hero who earns our respect and love, an alien that gives us nightmares and a love story that is spectacular. A must read if there ever was one.