The Berserkers, in their single-minded pursuit of their preprogrammed course of destruction, attain a kind of perverse stature that makes them worthy standins for the dark side of human nature.

Master storyteller Fred Saberhagen returns to his bestselling Berserker series to reveal the beginning of humanity's war with the dreaded Juggernaut-like machines programmed to destroy all life in the galaxy.

In the Twin World planets of Prairie and Timber,Plentpotiary Gregor is determined to serve his government by executing innocent Huvean hostages, invaders from another planet--even when Gregor's granddaughter, Luon, is in love with Reggie, a Huvean.

But at the same time Berserkers are threatening the Twin Worlds, crashing a scoutship, capturing the planets' president, and reprogramming his brain to suit their violent agenda. And only the Huveans, in a desperate reprieve, can save the Twin Worlds' populace from annihilation.