A book about the extraordinary adventures of young men in search of civilizational achievements lost to humanity. The nuclear war did happen. And now two generations have not known what cars and big cities are. Since the cities are outlawed, and the few surviving generation huddle on farms and villages. At first glance, this is a rural, pastoral life. In the government the main influence lies with the religious sect known as the New Mennonites; they stand for independence, instill respect for the land, the values of honest hard work in the fields. Young Len Coulter and his cousin Iso grow up in this sensible, happy, well-off, God-fearing society. The boys eagerly listen to stories about huge cities, artificially created factories and factories, airplane flights and radio communications, and dream of cars and Bartorstown - a mythical city where former knowledge and technical capabilities are still preserved.