The main character is a plump rascal, Klaus "Lovejoy" von Kleinschnabel, the world renown painter, astrophysicist, musician and poet extraordinaire. Even though he's a bit of a hedonist his heart is good. He's built a time machine driven by steam which he and Countess Mimi uses to help and free people in time and space. The notorious time police is after him because he is a "lazy dreamer" and his groove of freedom and love threatens those in power. To proclaim himself Baron (free man) was the last drop for the Machinerists who means to own and control every man.