After global devastation, the last remnants of Earth sent a handful of colonists to a distant terraformed world to give humanity one last, desperate chance. Unable to provide the technology required for an advanced civilization, the founders instilled in the colonists a strict code of conduct and gave them a few precious imprinting devices: glass helmets that contain all of Earth's scientific knowldege. Once in a generation, the heir to the province of Laal begins the arduous training required to survive the imprinting of the Glass Helm and acquire the knowledge of lost Earth. But Leland de Laal, the youngest son of one of Agatsu's greatest leaders, has climbed the forbidden rock spire where the Helm is kept and donned it, unaware that its knowledge has a terrible price. To an unprepared mind it brings madness, agony, and even death.
- ISBN10 0812571355
- ISBN13 9780812571356
- Publish Date 15 February 1999 (first published 1 March 1998)
- Publish Status Out of Stock
- Out of Print 13 July 2011
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Tor Books
- Format Paperback
- Pages 468
- Language English