Its three chapters are written in a brisk, economical style, and it proved to be one of Herbert's most accessible and popular works.

BuSab is a government agency responsible for conducting dirty tricks "in lieu of red tape" to help slow down and regulate the vast galaxy-spanning bureaucracy of the ConSentiency.

(In keeping with its ethos the Secretary of the agency retains their office until they themselves are sabotaged or resign).

Tasked with finding missing saboteur Napoleon Bildoon, McKie attempts to penetrate the secrets of the Pan-Spechi, a race divided into groups of five crèche mates, only one of whom possess ego-awareness at a time.

In so doing he runs afoul of the "Tax Watchers" organization, which is adamantly opposed to the very existence of BuSab.