New technologies include automated self-sufficient houses, genetically-engineered pets, 'Brainman' (VR with brain–computer interface), artificial general intelligence, medicine to double the human lifespan and extend fertility.

The economics policy is guided by "the skilful application of Chaos Theory by World Bank mathematicians", having caused "the collapse of communism and capitalism – now so long ago that both events seemed simultaneous."

The SPACEGUARD project exists with the goal of detecting and dealing with celestial bodies with the potential to strike the Earth, with Goliath and Hercules spaceships stationed near Jupiter L4 and L5 as interceptors.

In 2067, a nuclear bomb was exploded in space (on the other side of the Sun to avoid affecting the Earth) to generate powerful radio waves, whose echoes were used to identify more of possible impactors for the SPACEGUARD.

A new contact binary asteroid is discovered by an amateur astronomer, Dr. Angus Millar, having been missed by the SPACEGUARD due to a combination of factors.

Goliath, having been at Jupiter L4, leaves for Deimos to receive the ATLAS propulsion module, which is designed for attaching with the asteroid and slowly deflecting it to a safe course by using nuclear fusion-powered thrusters.

With the nuclear weapon plan in effect, the members of the Goliath crew make peace with their upcoming deaths and indulge in pleasure-seeking.

The other part, Kali 2, enters into the Earth's atmosphere and causes the deaths of a hundred thousand people and a trillion dollars' worth of damage.

[2] The Library Journal review noted, "In the capable hands of science fiction veteran Clarke, a standard cosmic disaster plot becomes a lucid commentary on humanity's place in the cosmos".