In a postcataclysmic earth, society is rebuilt on an orbiting space station in the form of a new Utopia ruled by an elect group of scientists who have established reason as the guiding principle. The story tells of the conflict that arises when a resurgent religion begins.<ref>Catherine L Newell, AZ fourfold Vision:Nature Religion and the Wages of Scientism in Usula LeGuins 'Newtons Sleep'. Religions 2018,9, 279 .</ref>

 

"[[The Shobies' Story]]" is set in Le Guin's [[Hainish Cycle|Hainish universe]], and follows the protagonists of the first successful jump to a planet using Churten theory. They discover that their experience and memories of the planet are radically different. This matters because Churten theory is more philosophical than scientific. The dissonance between their perceptions of the planets creates massive existential rifts in the fabric of space and time. The story tells of the protagonist attempt to reconcile their perceptions of what happened and mend the rift.