From the introduction: There are many legends about the Southern Seas. There is a sailor's tale of a Magical Lodestone Island, a floating land of plenty, where untold riches can be found. On nearing the island a ships compass will point straight toward it. Upon the shores of this paradise are singing mermaids, goats roam freely over the land, and there are springs of wine pouring forth from the rocks. In short, any sailor would be happy to sight its shores and trade a hard wandering life for one of ease ashore. Those landing upon Lodestone Island would be unlikely to leave. Such are a sailor's flights of fancy.