dystopian-social-stratification

Menelaus, a young apprentice and attorney in a dystopian post-collapse Texas, grapples with systemic racial prejudice and the brutal realities of frontier justice, where legal disputes are often resolved through pistol duels influenced by personal honor and reputation. Inspired by a rare, damaged comic depicting a hopeful, inclusive future free from hatred and death, he nurtures a secret aspiration to escape his harsh environment and reach the stars. The unexpected arrival of Rainier VII, Prince of Monaco and a symbol of space exploration, presents Menelaus with a choice between his grounded duties and the promise of a future beyond Earth, which he ultimately resists due to complex social obligations and personal conflict.