of life on this mysterious planet. At the start of the book, the narrative introduces a séance held by the medium Backhouse at Montague Faull’s residence. As guests gather for the spiritual event, tension builds with the arrival of two enigmatic individuals, Maskull and Nightspore. Following an odd and unsettling materialization at the séance, where a ghostly figure appears, Maskull is drawn into a conversation with Krag, who reveals their purpose: to journey to the planet Tormance. The opening sets a surreal tone, blending elements of philosophical discourse and speculative fiction, raising questions about existence as Maskull prepares to leave his earthly life behind. (This is an automatically generated summary.)