Climate change during the 20th and 21st centuries culminates in catastrophic changes to the planet as Nature declares war on humanity. Inches of polar ice cap melt, and evaporation bloats the atmosphere until finally, it begins to rain-and rain.The planet grows soggy, suffering manifest changes in topography as the earth turns into a quagmire, slipping and sliding beneath the feet of the humans who live on its surface. Earthquakes and mega-storms become more frequent and deadly. Industries suffer, with agriculture taking the biggest hit, and the economy teeters, then collapses.Physicist Noah Eastermann, determined to ensure a future beyond what others predict is the beginning of the end for the planet, builds a secret stronghold, dubbed Phoenix Nest. He smuggles in scientists and scholars until he has gathered a microcosm of world knowledge.Unable to program intelligence itself, the scientists instead enhance the brain's ability to absorb and retain knowledge and devise a way for this enhancement to pass from parent to child.Long after mankind plummetis off the top of the heap to land face first in the mud, descendants of Phoenix Nest, known as Preservationists, are hidden among the uneducated Morons in what was once the United States.Shelana is one of these "Presers." To carry out her duty as historian, she must battle to survive prejudice directed not at race, religion or means, but at intelligence. Feeding and spreading this prejudice is the powerful, mysterious and bloodthirsty group known as Myths. Vernon, leader of the Myths, is determined to wipe out the Preservationists and to control the redevelopment of civilization. Vernon has made one mistake that may ruin his plans and cost him his life, a mistake the Myth leader doesn't even remember he made. But Shelana does.