Pat Travis, a spacer known for his extraordinary luck, finds himself in a precarious situation on a planet where astrology dictates every major decision, and he arrives on one of the worst-aspected days in history. As he races against competitors to secure contracts with newly-Contacted human races, the story explores themes of fate, chance, and the absurdity of relying on superstition in a futuristic setting. Michael Shaara, later celebrated for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Killer Angels," crafts a thought-provoking narrative that resonates with contemporary audiences by highlighting the tension between free will and destiny.