The barons --
A visitor from Sweden --
Revolution --
Soviet days --
The middleman --
Détente --
The perfect oil field --
Crossfire --
The first deal --
Return to Baku --
The contract of the century --
The near abroad --
Early oil --
A battle of wills --
A tale of two negotiators --
An accidental pipeline --
An army for oil --
Boom and bust --
Kashagan --
A way to the sea --
The king of Kazakhstan --
Epilogue.

Describes the rogue's gallery of adventurers, dealmakers, political operatives, corrupt officials, powerful oil companies, and other interests competing for the vast oil reserves in the Caspian region in the wake of the disintegration of the Soviet Union.