Mike Pillsbury has built his life around the Hanzel Chronicles. From the time he could daydream, he's imagined ships and epic space battles between the peace-loving Hanzels, and the villainous Jongs, and other alien lifeforms. He has wanted these stories--not least of all his real Hanzel identity--to be true, and he's shared them with a spellbound audience of kids in his treehouse. Even after his unlikely friendship with Katelyn Sands complicates matters, Mike hopes there might be a home for him out there somewhere, among the stars.

But when a frustrated plea to the universe attracts a motley crew of aliens determined to rescue him, Mike isn't quite ready to relinquish life on Earth. Will the aliens, who all have something at stake, leave without him? And how will he vanquish Lord Blade-one of the Jongs, the viscious sankelike race that destroyed the Hanzels-who has turned up on Earth exhibiting less-than-peaceful intentions? Mike has opened a can of worms all right, and its contents--by turns hair-raising and hillarious--will thrill readers with one far out surprise after another.