Many years after a nuclear war destroyed much of humankind, the survivors have created a new society where much of the work done by artificial beings referred to derisively by humans as "clickers". Humans produce fewer and fewer children and are less than a year away from being outnumbered by clickers. Most vociferous about the evolving situation is the Order of Flesh and Blood, an organization out to ensure that humans remain dominant. Among them is Capt. Kenneth Cragis, concerned that his sister Esme has formed an intimite relationship with one of the artificial beings.