2045-2059 After the cataclysmic upheavals of Step Day & the Yellowstone eruption humanity is spreading further into the Long Earth & society on a battered Datum Earth & beyond continues to evolve Now an elderly & cantankerous AI Lobsang lives in disguise with Agnes in an exotic far-distant world He's convinced they're leading a normal life in New Springfield
- they even adopt a child
- but it seems they have been guided there for a reason As rumours of strange sightings & hauntings proliferate it becomes clear that something is very awry with this particular world Millions of steps away Joshua is on a personal journey of discovery learning about the father he never knew & a secret family history But then he receives a summons from New Springfield Lobsang now understands the enormity of what's taking place beneath the surface of his earth
- a threat to all the worlds of the Long Earth To counter this threat will require the combined efforts of humankind machine & the super-intelligent Next & some must make the ultimate sacrifice