Regnar, a young man living on Azure (formerly the Earth) is shocked to be told that he is a son of the emperor of the Imperium, the government of all of the inhabited planets, and that he is expected to go to its capital, The Orb, to be acknowledged by the emperor as a legitimate son, along with nearly one hundred and fifty other men-his half-brothers. Each is given a task, some activity that will benefit a planet other than his own. While they wait for their assignments, the princes occupy themselves, as each has the inclination to do. The Emperor uses what he learns from observing them as an additional factor, along with the handling of the task, to help him decide which shall be chosen as Crown Prince to become emperor when the current man passes away. Regnar's Task involves physical suffering as he prepares for it and unimagined (to him) adventure in an environment completely different from that of his own. He is required to forgo any relationships with his half-brothers and friends, and with the girl he admires, until he has finished it. Even then, will he be thought worthy to be Crown Prince? A surprise ending will leave the reader wanting more