A beautiful race, the Humana lack war, jealousy, and other human vices; however, they also have virtually no religious or aesthetic sense. Peter, a Neo-Catholic priest, wishes to change this so he calls upon Xanthu, a SoulSinger, in the hope that the insect-like creature can awaken the Humana's souls and help them to find not only their love for art, beauty, and deep emotion, but, above all, their love for God...yet as the silver-stringed instrument of the SoulSinger rises in a nest of claws and its first pure bell-like notes ring forth, what terrible, irreversible truth will be brought to light and will this alien Eden--or Father Peter--ever be the same?