from the introduction: On the fringes of human space is a cloud of stars called the Corvus Cluster, a gateway to the rich worlds of the Near Rim. In this anarchic, bustling territory, each world is a rival to all the others. The Corvus Worlds: Their ranks include a wild mix of xenophobic dictatorships, pirate kingdoms and peace loving democracies. The frontier Blue Drift worlds compete with the warlike states of the Kurites. The militant theocracy of Rusad’din intrigues against the practical traders of Subhadar. Mercenaries find easy employment here. And pirates prowl the space lanes.