Kirth Gersen pursues the notorious criminal Lens Larque, one of the five so-called Demon Princes, across several worlds, most notably Aloysius, the harsh desert world Dar Sai (inhabited by the Darsh, of whom Larque is one) and the more temperate and genteel Methel, which has grown rich doing business on Dar Sai.

Gersen determines that Larque is connected somehow with a seemingly worthless Dar Sai company called Kotzash Mutual.

Gersen attempts to renew his relationship with Jerdian, going so far as to buy the mansion next to her family's, but is rejected as a suitor by her father, bank owner Adario Chanseth, who uses the law to nullify the sale of the house.

Gersen learns that Kotzash Mutual has done extensive work on Shanitra, the small moon of Methel, for some mysterious reason.

Costikyan commented that "All in all, The Face is an intriguing and well-plotted adventure in Vance's usual strange style.