Alone, without a name or past, she finds herself on an unfamiliar planet and almost becomes a victim of hired killers. Pursued, she piece by piece reconstructs her own past and discovers that she is just a pawn in someone else's game, ready to result in the death of her entire race. Who is behind this cruel game? Is it possible for her, a loner, to upset other people's plans and gain freedom? And what will be the price of this freedom?

Lois McMaster Bujold called Julia Cerneda America's most promising contemporary science fiction writer, and her A Thousand Names for the Pilgrim the best SF novel created in recent years.