[1] The novel was dedicated to Carsac's American friends and science fiction writer colleagues Poul Anderson and L. Sprague de Camp, from whose works the author acknowledged borrowing some elements.

[3] The protagonist, independent geologist Téraï Laprade, champions the native humanoids of the planet Eldorado against the Interplanetary Metallurgical Bureau (IMB), a predatory conglomerate bent on exterminating them so it can freely plunder their world's mineral wealth.

Stella Henderson, daughter of the director of the IMB, arrives on El Dorado disguised as a reporter to gather information portraying the natives in an unfavorable light.

Their expedition involves them in conflicts with hostile inhabitants of Eldorado, and also in a religious war afflicting the largest state of Keno, where adherents of the bloodthirsty cult of the goddess Beelba seize power.

He becomes a full-time agent for the Bureau of Xenology, a government agency opposing the IMB, and arms the natives from a large weapons shipment from the planet New England, transported to Eldorado with the help of Captain Flandry.