Henry Hobb's home planet, Omicron, is so boring that no one has contacted it in years. So the visit of a foreign space ship is a HUGE event. For Henry, it's also the perfect chance to escape from his fearsome older brother, Rolo. It's only when he stows away on board that Henry discovers the crew's mission. They're looking for a new, intelligent life form - and it might take them fifty years! Terrified at the thought of spending nearly all his life in space, Henry hatches a desperate plan - but will it work?