At the center of his tale are two radically different communities. The novel opens on Manumotu, a remote and environmentally degraded island where the inhabitants are struggling to feed themselves after decades of overhunting and overfishing. Although their culture has strong ethical values — emphasizing nonviolence and a willingness to talk through any problem — the people of Manumotu are beset by self-doubt and inertia. They know they need to move elsewhere but lack the self-confidence and know-how to build a suitable craft or navigate to a new home.