Professor Burden supposed himself to be a loyal citizen of the State. But at the Department of Internal Examination the inquisitors quickly detected in him the ultimate heretic - to be reclaimed or eliminated.

In this intense and powerful story of the future David Karp poses the 'Can a man's whole identity be remoulded?' Half satirical, half haunting, his picture of the Benevolent State in action is rendered credible by masterly narrative and convincing its impact might be intolerable but for the final twist of hope.