The novel takes place in an isolated little world, fenced off from the rest of the planet by an invisible and insurmountable barrier. The entire territory of the closed world is a valley surrounded by a ring of mountains. The population of this world, formed five hundred years ago as a result of an unsuccessful spatial experiment, is divided into two classes. People with significant flaws in appearance live in villages and towns located in the valley and are engaged in agriculture and crafts. The gods - stately handsome men - live in a mountain palace called Paradise and lead an idle lifestyle. In the hands of the Gods are weapons with which they keep people in obedience (a method of programming human appearance) and devices that stabilize the corrections made. As a result of a failure in the appearance correction program, a person with minimal deformities is born - the hunchback Aigur. Having lived in a closed little world for a quarter of a century, he decides to cross the invisible barrier and pave the way to the outside world. Many trials will fall to his lot - pain and suffering, battles and overcoming all sorts of obstacles, the loss of loved ones and dear people. But Aigur will eventually achieve his goal.