Alexander Shulgin is a thinker and adventurer, a soldier of Truth and a strategist of the Game. Yet another proof that one man in the field is indeed a warrior. His current journey through chimerical realities—cut off from his friends—allows not only to add a few more points to humanity’s account in its confrontation with the Holders and the Players, but also to reveal a new opponent who has been quietly gathering strength for the time being and not rushing to expose himself. Under the guise of an arms-industry drug addict, Grigory Shestakov, Alexander begins a game on the field of pre-war Soviet Union—with Stalin himself. Without knowing the exact answers, Shulgin feels that changing history at this particular point is absolutely necessary…