Like all children about to set off on an adventure, Luka Khalifa is a special kid. For one thing, his father is the famed storyteller Rashid Khalifa, "the Shah of Blah," "the Ocean of Notions." For another, Luka's older brother, Haroun, had already had an adventure of his own, travelling to a previously unknown moon and overthrowing a terrible enemy who threatened the Sea of Stories. Finally, and most importantly, Luka's mother announced on the day of his birth that her newborn son had the power to turn back time; after all, he had been born well after his parents' youth. Plus, he was left-handed. So it is only a matter of time before Luka finds himself in the midst of a great adventure. It begins, however, with something Luka gives very little thought to. When the Great Rings of Fire circus comes to the city of Kahani, Luka stops to watch the animals and performers troop through the streets. When he sees that the gentle beasts are treated cruelly by the brutish leader of the circus, the hard-hearted Captain Aag, he does what any other kid would do: he curses the circus master.