It deals with an imagined world, Nor'Dyren, where an alien human-like species has a more structured social system than is the case for human society.

The reason that the Qattagon had gotten out of control and become a problem for Nor'Dyren was because the balance between the four groups had been engineered to be appropriate for worlds that were part of a large interstellar empire.

But in the distant past, that empire had collapsed, leaving the planet Nor'Dyren isolated and unable to absorb the full force of the creativity of its Qattagon.

Assignment Nor'Dyren is a pleasant mystery novel set on an interesting alien world, but it also leads the reader to think about some issues that are important on Earth.

The Allegon, Berregon, Gonnegon and Qattagon appear to be the result of genetic engineering, four specialized variations of the original species, rationally designed so as to form a stable social system.