An epic yet personal look at several decades of life, love, and death in the imaginary city of Ambergris. Narrated by ex-society figure Janice Shriek, this afterword presents a vivid gallery of characters and events, emphasizing the adventures of Janice's brother Duncan, a war between rival publishing houses that will change Ambergris forever, and the gray caps, a marginalized people armed with advanced fungal technologies who have been waiting underground for their chance to mold the future of the city.