In the not-too-distant future the United States is ravaged by disease and stifled by martial law. With whole cities succumbing to a lethal virus known as V-CIDS, the panicked authorities take the drastic action of herding the infected into specially designed internment camps. Into one of these prisons stumbles Michael Barris, a wealthy interactive-television mogul with a controversial past. He is searching for his sick son, spending his fortune and his future for answers. What he finds is a carefully-guarded nightmare — one that he helped create.

As Barris struggles to survive in this shadowy world, he comes to understand that reaching his son is not his only battle. For the camps have a far more sinister agenda than the military is willing to admit — an agenda which threatens not only life, but the very spark of human spirit.

“Excellent … a daring vision.” — Publishers Weekly

“Powerful … disturbing … A vision of the future that is all too possible…” — Margaret Weis

“Masterful … sensitive … controversial … Hickman holds up a mirror to our society.” — R. A. Salvatore

“Excellent and exciting … An important book…” — Robin Wayne Bailey