Ecumene is on the verge of war. Three powerful civilizations are gathering battle fleets to the site of the future battle. The ascetic brahmins, the wolves of Pompilia Magna and Largitas, the flagship of technological progress, are all ready to grab each other's throats. The cause of discord is a little boy, wonder of wonders. Even the antis, the giants of space, walking on foot between the stars, violate their neutrality. Conspiracies, intrigues, political scandals, secret operations, and in an underground bunker father and son build a fragile ladder of trust and love. Where will this ladder lead them? Really into the sky?! “Prodigal Son” is the fifth novel in the epic “Ecumene”, which has long earned the interest and love of readers. “Cosmic Symphony” was written by H. L. Oldie ten years ago, and in “one distant galaxy” a year goes by two—it’s not for nothing that the new novel has the subtitle “Ecumene: Twenty Years Later.” What next? The universe will never be the same.