A freak accident sends Joseph Schwartz thousands of years into the future, from 1949 to an Earth that is radioactive and outcast from the rest of the galaxy. Schwartz cannot speak the language and doesn't have the right identity papers, so he falls haplessly into the hands of those who may or may not help him.

Asimov is at his best when combining politics with fantastic futures, and the politics in this case are believable and well-drawn. It seems that every so often Earth explodes in rebellion over its outcast status, and is getting ready to do so again. Schwartz and his allies try desperately to save the galaxy (and Earth), but will they make it in time?

If this all seems a little over dramatic, that's because the book itself is a bit over the top. That doesn't make it bad -- it just has a little less heft than the other empire novels. It is recommended, but with reservations.

[note: this is a re-read for me]