All HailLord Iron.

Fifteen years ago, Lord Iron conquered Earth in a single day. Today, London sits under his floating black citadel, the trains still run late, and attendance at his parade is mandatory.

Neil is 34, exhausted, and very good at keeping his head down. At the Conquest Day parade, he steps into the way of an assassin, entirely by accident, saving Lord Iron. The regime decides he is a hero.

Now Neil is Warden of the Realm, the friendly face of an empire that executes a man over a joke. And when he asks whether he gets a choice, the answer is one predictable word.