The story follows a group of scientists who develop Bossy, a computer capable of solving any problem—scientific, philosophical, or personal. However, the machine has a unique limitation: it only works for individuals who are psychologically capable of accepting its answers without resistance. For most people, this proves impossible. Pride, fear, and deeply held beliefs prevent them from embracing the truth, rendering the machine useless to them.

As the researchers experiment with Bossy, they discover that those who can accept its answers undergo profound transformations. Freed from internal contradictions and self-deception, these individuals achieve a kind of mental clarity that borders on the superhuman. The implications are staggering—suggesting that human limitations are not physical, but psychological.

The novel builds toward the idea that true progress requires not better technology, but better minds. Through satire and speculative science, Clifton and Riley question whether humanity is ready for truth—or whether we will always prefer comforting illusions.