Masque World — Alexei Panshin

You are invited to a ball given by Lord Semichastny at his estate on Delbalso. Be prepared for: The Great Trog Chase, a marvel of bureaucratic befuddlement compounded by the appearance of an imposter rivaling Torve himself for Troggish charm, though not unpredictability; The winders of Peelgrunt at Xenakis' Centre (the only place on Delbalso even mentioned by Wu and Fabricant); A family of bourgeois con-artists keeping up appearances as interstellar rug salesmen; The first intimations of the Universal Pantograph; The Last Christian; and The Monist Association's Xochitl Sodality Night (who says middle-aged men are too old for green hats with feathers?), culminating in a citywide game of Wonders and Marvels well worth donning a mask to attend!