'jasper' is a world poor in resources. A water world, seven small islands support the descendants of a colony ship dispatched before ftl space travel was a possibility. with land at such a premium, disgraced inhabitants are sentenced to life imprisonment in glass flasks sunk beneath the sea. such disgrace includes insolvency, unknown or incurable illness, homicide and a variety of lesser crimes. trade and commerce between the islands is fiercely competitive with devious and deceitful ploys used as a matter of course. collusion between commercial and religious concerns adds to tensions. And there are 'the reapers' – a band of pirates. mergan toric – a sea trader of repute – falls foul of a rival businessman and finds himself incarcerated beneath the waves. an earthquake opens the prison only for him to be seized by pirates from which he also escapes to finally make his way back into society. nut not before almost winning the 'tourney' which carries the top civil title as its prize and toppling the most coldly ambitious of the religious leaders from power. a fine sixteenth century flavor to this story of intrigue on the high seas - erw