Earth is a dead cinder, The last of the human race struggles for survival beneath the dense clouds of Venus, where the land is ruled by savage plants and even more savage beasts, while monsters out of nightmare swim through the globe-girdling seas. Mankind huddles in domed underwater Keeps, living a purposeless static existence--and doomed unless something changes. Few dare risk then lives to oppose the ruthless oligarchs for whom the status quo means a lifetime of luxury. But two courageous visionaries--the fighting men Brainard and Gordon--must struggle through both the hellish surface jungles and the equally deadly human jungles of the Keeps. And if they fail, both Venus and Mankind will die.