This the last work of Leo Frankowski and the last chapter of the Adventures of Conrad Stargard. It completes a series begun in 1986 and spanning eight books. The series ends in the best of Leo's tradition of rousing adventure intermixed with the engineering details that fleshed out his earlier work. When Leo returned from Russia in 2006, he began working on the final chapter of Conrad's life. His age and declining health made progress slow, but he was eventually able to complete the plot outline and write part of the final book. Leo and I had agreed that Conrad would grow and change in the last book and find a way to noble retirement or noble death. You will have to read the last chapter to know which path was chosen. Unfortunately, Leo died before finishing the text. On Christmas Morning 2008, he died suddenly and peacefully from the effects of various drugs that he was prescribed. However, the book was well started and the plot known and Leo wanted everyone to know what happened to Conrad. I was familiar with Leo's writing style, having been coached by him to enable me to contribute to earlier writings, so I finished it.

Heinrich Copernick and Martin Guibedo came to the States as penniless refugees after World War II. By 1999 they had made huge fortunes in the field of medical instrumentation. But Heiny and his Uncle Martin weren’t just filthy rich, they were also the world’s best gene engineers. And their latest inventions could free Humanity from want and oppressive governments forever. At least, that was the plan. Imagine: Free homes with all the furnishings and utilities! Free food! Even free babysitters! Heiny and Uncle Martin even thought they should give their inventions away. Free. That’s when their troubles began.