Protagonist Elijah Baley's wife, Jessie worries about Baley undertaking a murder investigation on the Spacer world Aurora because Gladia Dalmarre/Solaria has moved there. Jessie is jealous—Baley insists without cause—of Gladia after Gladia and Baley grow close during the investigation of Gladia's husband on Solaria. When Gladia seduces Baley at the end of this novel, he feels guilty and insists that he must return home to Jessie and the rest of his life on Earth. Early in the novel, Jessie refuses to accompany Baley to the Spaceport, fearing that he will die en route or be killed when he reaches Aurora.