It is about a group of Shakespearean actors, the "Earth's Men", in the far future where humans are a minor conquered species, spread across the stars in subservient roles.

The narrator, one of the actors, suspects the alien masters of the galaxy are deciding the fate of humanity based on the performances.

[2] The title comes from William Shakespeare's Henry V (Prologue, 1–4): O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention, A kingdom for a stage, princes to act And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!

Ray Olson of Booklist wrote: "Simmons' novella ... is an exceptionally artful religious legend of the far future, and quite special."

"[4] According to Dorman T. Shindler of The Denver Post: "The whole thing feels more like a blueprint for a novel rather than a proper piece of short fiction.