小说描述在一场未来的核战争中，一架飞机带着一群孩子从本土飞到南方疏散。飞机被击落，孩子们乘坐的机舱落到一座世外桃源般的、荒无人烟的珊瑚岛上。起初孩子们齐心协力，后来由于害怕所谓的“野兽”分裂成两派，以崇尚本能的专制派压倒了讲究理智的民主派而告终。

At the dawn of the next World mar, a plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, with no adult superutsion, their freedom is something to celebrate. This far from Cluilizatlon thep can do anpthing thep want. Rnything. But as order collapses, as strange ho,,,ls echo in the night, as terror begins its reign, the hope of sduenture seems as far remoued from realitp as the hope of being rescued...