Carter Evans is founder and editor-in-chief of "Astounding " a formerly popular spec fiction magazine currently in its death throes. Not only can he do nothing to save it, but stuck in a rathole apartment with few interpersonal connections, he can t seem to do much to rescue his future either. And certainly all the booze isn t helping. He snaps when he receives yet another terrible story submission from the mysterious writer J. Harper and in a drunken haze, Carter sends Harper a rejection letter he soon regrets.
J. Harper turns out to be John Harper, a sweet man who resembles a 50s movie star and claims to be an extraterrestrial. Despite John s delusions, Carter s apology quickly turns into something more as the two lonely men find a powerful connection. Inexplicably drawn to John, Carter invites him along on a road trip. But as they travel, Carter is in for some big surprises, some major heartbreak and just maybe the promise of a good future after all. "