Galatna Palace

A pleasure palace located above the city of Gayjur by the ocean on the planet Rakhat, Galatna houses reshtars—third and subsequent sons of minor royal families who by birth order are excluded from official roles. Hlavin Kitheri when exiled there to protect his nephews from any dynastic ambition that he might illegally harbor, outranks them all. The reshtars lead a boring existence, marked by monstrous banquets, violent games, and debased sex with a harem of Runa and Jana'ata third-born females. While not avoiding the debauchery, Hlavin wants more. He composes new chants and broadcasts them to his sister Jholaa in Inbrokar. He obtains the services of protagonist Emilio Sandoz and shares him as a sexual plaything with his companions. Emilio thus identifies Galatna exclusively with horrors, but many reshtars spend their time there in continued education and become professionals in various fields. When Hlavin...