When exo-geologist James Blackthorne volunteers to survey a newly-discovered planet, he falls for Aveliin, an indigenous Zil receiving an experimental drug designed to align the species' sleep cycles with human ones. But, "the course of true love never did run smooth." Especially when it "was different in blood."

So Quick Bright Things Come to Confusion is a deep space, post-colonial love story deeply indebted to the hubris of hegemony, still-permeating power of Freud's concept of ego, and, of course, the great manners comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream.