Journal Entry 1 by malagan from Arnhem, Gelderland Netherlands on Sunday, December 10, 2006

The Mississippian civilization of Illyria exists in a post-apocalyptic world in which civilization is just beginning to raise its head. Although Illyrian society is not fully described by McDevitt, its most salient point for the purposes of the novel is the existence of the Imperium, a Medieval style college which tries to understand the artefacts left behind by the previous "Roadmaker" civilization. Along with the idea of the Roadmakers is the belief in a lost Edenesque community, Haven, somewhere in the far Northeast. As the novel opens, Karik Endine returns, the sole survivor of a failed attempt to discover Haven.

When Karik dies ten years later, the discovery of a copy of the Roadmaker book, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, along with a series of sketches, causes some Illyrians to believe that Karik may indeed have discovered Haven. A small band of six set off in search of the mythical city.