Aubrey Richards, better known as A. E. Richards, prolific sci-fi/mystery author, finishes typing the last page of his brand-new novel, Gene Depot, only to discover his wife, that very same day, reading a newly released hardcover book called SPACERS by Dick Avery, a novel that ends up being almost identical to the one Aubrey has just finished writing and has yet to show to anyone; and thus begins his quest for an answer to this most perplexing, career-crushing personal attack.