Humanity's longest day begins with a deep space observation satellite detecting a large "energy bubble" encompassing Penn State's campus in State College, PA. No one knows what caused the mysterious event, including its creator, a graduate student named Alexander Barr. He has discovered how matter, energy, and thought are interrelated, with the critical information coming from ancient texts. Alexander's efforts are making him into a being of incomprehensible power, but he carries the flaws we all harbor within. The powers that be try to stop Alexander's development and end up wounding him...