the advent of the soviet nuclear capability ushers in a dangerous phase of the cold war as the decade of the 1950s looms. stung by this soviet challenge and the rapid race to develop ever more sophisticated weapons, the united states resurrects maverick professor toichi hikita's work in electromagnetic particle acceleration. despite the dismal record of failure that has dogged the project.
doctor masado banzai, preeminent japanese quantum theorist, declares himself anxious to work for the allies. enamored of the great american west, banzai sires a precocious son and tags the tiny child "buckaroo." a tribute to his adopted homeland.
and thus given a second chance after his secret pre-war laboratory disaster at princeton, doctor hikita finds new life at the texas school of mines, where he assembles a team of crack scientists willing to gamble he's right in his bold assertion that man can indeed pass unharmed through solid matter.
sir alan motley of cambridge, a brainy, affable limey, co-developer with whitehead and lord russell of the world's most advanced theoretical gravity catapult.
dr. sandra banzai, texas-born pioneer in negative mass propulsion . wife of dr. masado banzai.