Peter, a devoted man of faith, is called to the mission of a lifetime, one that takes him galaxies away from his wife, Bea. Peter becomes immersed in the mysteries of an astonishing new environment, overseen by an enigmatic corporation known only as USIC. His work introduces him to a seemingly friendly native population struggling with a dangerous illness and hungry for Peters teachings-his Bible is their "book of strange new things." But Peter is rattled when Beas letters from home become increasingly desperate: typhoons and earthquakes are devastating whole countries, and governments are crumbling. While Peter is reconciling the needs of his congregation with the desires of his strange employer, Bea is struggling for survival.