Many centuries after the fantastic Sixty Minute War, the Traction Era has begun. Cities have torn themselves from the ground and mounted wheels. The world lives by the laws of Municipal Darwinism: cities roam the Hunting Ground and devour one another. And when prey becomes very scarce, the Traction City of London resorts to the monstrous weapons of the Ancients. With their help it intends to destroy the cities of the Anti-Traction League, and then reach Mars, the Sun, and the stars.
The novel’s heroes, Tom and Hester, finding themselves in the Out-Country, end up on a pirate platform, then in Airhaven, then on the Shield-Wall, but both—each for their own reasons—are determined to return aboard London.
Thank the narrator on .