The story begins with a man named Graham who, plagued by insomnia, falls into a mysterious trance and awakens centuries later in a future world. In this strange society marked by advanced technology and stark social divisions, he learns that he is the legal owner of the world due to his long sleep and compounded wealth. As a result, he becomes a symbol of revolution, thrust into a web of power struggles and uncertainty over whom to trust. Amid public unrest and rapid urban upheaval, he allies with a man named Ostrog, stepping into the role of a new ruler as the old order collapses. Through this first part, Wells explores themes of identity, power, and inequality, building tension in a vivid, speculative future.
