TheactiontakesplaceinagrimanarchistfuturecivilizationafterabigcrashorwarAyoungman,AllanBenteinBaardson,decidestomoveoutofthecityashisfamilyliveinHebringshiswife,Lisa'PetronellaBarker',andthesontoabiggarbagedumplocatedoutsidethecityWheretheysettleandsurviveonthewastetheyfindonthedumpTheyareinmanywaysmorecloselyrelatedtoeachotherbylivingthisway,andLisaeventuallybecomespregnantButthereisagreatshortageofwaterSweetwaterandthefamilyofthreemustgooutandlookforwaterWhentheydiscovertheyarenotaloneinstayinginlandfillItwillbeastruggleforexistence