The Earth's environment had been ruined and was unlikely to support human life for much longer. An underground city was created to ensure the races survival until the time when the surface is once again habitable. For seven hundred years everyone in this city, called Sanctum, has belonged to a class signifying his/her role and place of habitationand they've had their lives controlled by a ruling elite - the Fulberth.

Similar to ancient Rome the people have no say in the governing of Sanctum. And also similarly violent entertainment is used to distract them from the undemocratic nature of Sanctum. The game is a violent version of Ice Hockey (or should I say even more violent) involving mazes where one side strives to discover their opponents goal to score first.

The greatest of the Mazeplayers is Jarret St John. As part of his work as an archivist he discovers that the surface is capable of sustaining life, a fact that the Fulberth do not want to become common knowledge as it would threaten their hold on the city. They attempt to discredit him by tempting him with forbidden information and when he takes the bait he finds his class membership is withdrawn and he is made a fugitive.

However he evades the searches for him and attempts to gain the surface.

On the surface are the descendants of Australia's Aboriginal population who successfully found unpolluted ground in the hills of northern Australia. and they have discovered the existence of the underground city.

The basic themes of this novel - underground self contained cities, earth ravaged, violent futuristic sport aligned to almost tribal groups - have been done before. But don't feel that this means that there is nothing new in this book so why should you bother reading it. This is a rewarding novel.

It's very fast plotted, with a high action content, but against this there are wonderful character driven scenes - especially with the meeting between the Samctum people and the future Aboriginals. It is quite a refreshing book and where as it might seem that it lacks the polish of some of the mainstream sf releases it certainly delivers a thoroughly compelling tale. And a big plus for me - it has no removable padding. It's probably no secret that I cringe away from 500 page plus sf novels (the very thought of excessive description can induce shivers) and this book suits me fine, it tells me a story without describing exactly how the paint is peeling of the door whilst the characters walk through it.

Synopsis
On Earth's once decimated surface, the last of an ancient people live - they believe they are the only ones left. Not far from their mountain home another populace had survived the holocaust. Deep within the earth they exist, toiling for their masters in the cavernous underworld called Sanctum. Their only lawful diversion, Mazeplay, a gladiatorial game played on ice.

On the surface, Nakella, the tribal priest's son, hungers to escape the confines of his mountain village. Much to his father's alarm he prepares to leave with his followers.

Jarret St John, a mazeplayer, is convinced the surface can again support life and that the rulers of Sanctum, the Fulberth, want to keep the masses trapped below. A plan to escape the city is hatched.