Summary

As Chapter One, “On the Beach at the Ritz,” opens, a man named Kerans watches the sun rise. He is avoiding conversation with a Colonel Riggs, who typically passes by Kerans’ domicile each morning. Kerans watches a thermal storm ravage the edge of the lagoon his window looks out upon. Kerans is a scientist studying the flora and fauna of a post-climate-apocalypse world from a penthouse suite in an old hotel outside of the city called the Ritz.

Kerans stands on the balcony and watches enormous, Triassic-sized insects as they buzz past. He heads to the dock outside, where he is greeted by Colonel Riggs. Riggs asks Kerans for help with a job. Riggs disembarks from his cutter and joins Kerans in his penthouse, making excuses to Macready, the pilot of the boat. Kerans prepares Riggs a drink and Riggs asks if Kerans...