From the introduction: The year is 1888, and man has conquered the solar system using void flying balloons and steamships. The travelers have flown to the steamy, jungle world of Venus to see the ancient temples, hunt dinosaurs in the swamps, or start new lives. However, a freak storm causes their passenger ship to crash in the jungles, some hundred fifty miles outside of port. They are the only survivors, and they have only been able to salvage two week’s food.