the core of the story is the idea that young boys and girls are selected and acquired at a very early age on account of their singing abilities. the children are taken away from normal life and trained to sing. they are given drugs that delay puberty for five years. the drugs also make them sterile. a few specially talented singers are designated as "songbirds", "songbirds are given only to those who can truly appreciate them. we invite people to accept them. we do not take applications." songbirds are sold to worthy wealthy clients and stay with them till their fifteenth birthday when they return to the "songhouse". singers who fail to make the grade do not necessarily have fulfilling lives even though the songhouse takes care of their material needs.