Technological marvels are changing life on Pern. Dragonriders, lead by F'lessan and Tia, must forge a new place for themselves in a world that may no longer need them.
Sisth-gradeer Akiko and her friends from the planet Smoo travel to the upside-down city of Gollarondo, where an accident befalls Gax the robot and a search begins for all his missing pieces.