Things are disappearing. Parts of buildings, parts of people, parts of the whole world. Old Shellback thinks he needs glasses. But all he really has to do is open his eyes, and see that George Smiley the Messiah is busy dismantling the world. But two can play at this game. While George is making this world disappear, Old Shellback will make another one appear—and take an amazing journey back to a future of his own making. Is it the end of the world—or just the end of the world as we know it?