In this book, the last in the present Six Rings series, you are now back in the present time. Bastian is at the height of his powers and intellect. We arrive in the present day like a jolt – it is the unforgettable summer of 2020, and the United States, indeed the world, is gripped by a novel COVID-19 viral pandemic.
The pandemic is severe and does not seem to be abating. There is much confusion as to how to address the pandemic, authorities and politicians are seen arguing amongst themselves in the media, false promises of cures abound, and most of the country is in quarantine. There is some confidence that a vaccine is coming in the next six months to one year, but that is not certain.