It's Britain, but not as we know it. Democracy has been replaced by a colourtocracy. Visual colour dominates society, from the feed-pipes that keep the municipal park green to a social hierarchy based upon one's limited colour vision. Eddie Russett has no ambition to be anything other than a loyal drone. With his better-than-average Red perception, he could marry an Oxblood and maybe even make Prefect. Life looks colourful. Life looks good. But then he moves to East Carmine and falls in love with a Grey named Jane who opens his eyes to the painful truth. Where have all the spoons gone? What happened to all the people who never returned from High Saffron?