Space merchant Jake Borenski has just about cornered the market on an obscure commodity when his captain discovers him--and maroons him on a primative planet. Jake awakens to find he has no useful skills, a huge bar bill, and is in danger of being sold into slavery. He starts out washing beer barrels, but he dreams of getting back into space, away from the miserable dirtball he finds himself on, and into civilization. Gradually, though, he realizes that he's needed here--even if it means giving up old dreams and becoming a merchant prince of Arcadia.