In the future, ideological struggles based on race, gender and religion bring about myriad city-states separated by river borders. From space, Earth landmass resembles a jigsaw puzzle. The process that makes this possible, some call Channelling. Agate begins life inauspiciously, an infant cast on the shores of Scholarcity. Agate's battle for acceptance in a society riven by social divisions leads him to attempt the highest order of citizenry among the ranks of the Chroniclers. To this end, Agate must travel to five predefined destinations and live among the natives for one year, learning and recording what he can of socio-political life. His first destination is to Androgynous the City of Women on the English South Coast.