Clara Perry is a gifted scientist from Earth who was sent to the planet Pless to jumpstart it's technological revolution before a catastrophic event befalls the planet. Clara doesn't know the person who sent her there, but resents the mysterious figure who gave her the assignment strongly. She can either complete the assignment or stay on the planet forever, never to see Earth again. Clara sets upon her task diligently, and attracts attention as a genius scientist as she "invents" things on the technologically primitive planet. She introduces electricty to light the city and automatic weapons to fight off their invaders. She gains a young apprentice named Jenny, who she teaches as much as she can. Her efforts are not universally appreciated; some religious groups believe her work is drawing people away from their faith. It also attracted the attention of a brutal enemy called the Khalditru. They want to steal the riches of the town of Tarndale, the place where Clara had settled. On the day of a huge parade, the Khalditru attack. One of the invaders try to kill Hiram, a love interest of Jenny's. She had tried developing her own weapon based on Clara's teachings, but it backfires and she ends up dead. Hiram, Clara, and Jenny's family are brokenhearted. After Jenny's funeral, Clara receives a cryptic note from the mysterious man who assigned her the job encouraging to keep going in spite of this.