Across the aching wastes of space a terrible war is raging. The Gologons, long relegated to being the garbage disposers of the Galaxy, have finally rebelled, and now rampage across the universe, led by the pitiless Gulgus Filch. The only thing standing between them and universal domination is a small breakaway faction of the United Planets Federation.

Meanwhile, in rural Devon, Sir Mortimer and Lady Trenchard are trying desperately to prevent their beloved, crumbling Hambledon Hall from falling into the hands of a City whizz-kid who plans to turn it into a weekend conference centre. If the Universe is to have any kind of hope, the UPF needs to find a safe place where they can gather and plan a counter-attack. And because of its handy location at the terminus of a wormhole (opening beside an azalea just beyond the ha-ha), Hambledon Hall is ideally situated to provide just such a haven ...