In an endless sea of sand drifts the Mud Whale, a floating island city of clay and magic. In its chambers a small community clings to survival, cut off from its own history by the shadows of the past.

Neither fully human nor fully Nous, the emperor has had centuries to observe people and the sadness they cannot seem to escape. Determined to bring happiness to humanity, he will do anything to see his grand plan to fruition--even if it means bringing about the end of the world.