Erastus is a young man brimming with jest, optimism, and a seemingly endless supply of irritating ideas. As his father’s only son, all expectations and prospects rest squarely on his shoulders. Yet, rarely does Rast meet these obligations without adding his own twist—always according to his own will and often to his own benefit. For do not be deceived by his good humor; beneath it lies a sharper mind than he lets on, one that is both keen and perceptive.