In a post-war world dominated by sluglike alien overlords, a man must navigate a high-stakes, unending game to reclaim his lost property and spouse. Pete Garden finds himself caught in the rigid, bureaucratic machinery of a society where land and human relationships are gambled away in a complex game called Bluff. As he attempts to manipulate the odds to recover his life in Berkeley, he faces constant interference from psychic traitors and the unpredictable nature of his own social circle. The narrative unfolds through a lens of dark humor, highlighting the absurdity of human and alien power structures alike.

The work is often analyzed for its characteristic blend of paranoia and social commentary, which remains a hallmark of the author's mid-career output. Readers frequently note the surreal nature of the central game, which serves as a metaphor for the arbitrary rules imposed by governing bodies. The narrative structure emphasizes the fragility of human identity when subjected to external, alien control. Critics often point to the book as a quintessential example of how the author uses science fiction to dismantle the perceived stability of everyday life.