The barren world Amoi was terraformed and settled centuries ago by scientists seeking to create an ideal civilization. Instead, their supercomputer, Jupiter, went mad and attained consciousness. The society Jupiter created is a bizarre one.
Women are rare.
The Blondies are genetically engineered to be both stronger and smarter then the oridinary human, except for the fact that they are sterile. Favored pets are kept in condos in Apatia in the Midas suburb of Eos. The people in Ceres are descendants of a group who had risen and rebelled against Jupiter but failed and were cast out of Tanagura, Amoi's capitol city. Iason Mink is one of the elite of the elite, a leader of Tanagura, a man in direct contact with Jupiter. When Iason saves Riki from some vigilantes, Riki offers his body, the only thing he has to give, as payment.