In this prequel to 'The Electric Church', a young Avery Cates takes on his first job, meets someone who will be an old friend someday, and learns some hard lessons in the newly-formed System of Federated Nations.
Contains the previously-released Avery Cates stories 'This Was Battle. This Was Joy,' 'The Golden Badge,' 'The Oldest Bastard on the Block,' 'This Was Education,' 'all orphans, at least', and 'The Sewer Rat.'