When 12-year old Matthew hears a radio broadcast of someone claiming to be the Emperor of Mars and is coming to Earth in a week, he begins to notice strange happenings in his little town of Empire. First a crop circle that appears overnight and out of nowhere, discovered by Nicodemus, a troubled war veteran who witnessed the neat circle cut into a field of wheat. Then there were the streaking beams of light and color that danced in the field and the night sky. That was enough for Matthew to think that the Emperor might just be coming to Empire town even though nobody else believed it. And his suspicions grew stronger as Nicodemus began constructing something in the middle of the field which drew Matthew closer to the veteran. But as Matthew waited for more signs, he also had to deal with Stephanie, an 11-year old who was convinced Matthew was her true love. There was also the young and pretty Miss Major, his 6th grade teacher who had inspired him to great things and Bernie, his closest friend, who was doubtful about Matthew's predictions but would stand by him to the end. But as the day came near, Matthew and the townspeople begin to wonder if the Emperor was really coming to their town. And what would happen if he does.