Philip Jose Farmer was a master of the science fiction novella, and Rastignac is one of his most memorable creations. In this story, set in a distant future, Farmer explores sentient beings' relationship with space travelers from Earth. A colony of French citizens from Earth decide to escape overcrowded Earth and set up a "New Gaul" on a distant planet.

A unique device on the planet allows telepathy and empathy but also acts as a conscience and provides punishment for bad behavior. The two native species and the French live together peacefully until someone wants to change things drastically. Listeners will get caught up in the rich language, well developed characters, and interesting concepts explored in this intriguing story.