as the milieu trilogy proper begins with "jack the bodiless", humankind, led by the remillard family, is awaiting acceptance into the galactic milieu. with earth's government being overseen by one of the alien races (simbiari) ultimately under the authority of the galactic milieu, harsh laws (including eugenics laws) are instituted, which fuels feelings of suspicion in both earth's normal and metapsychic population.