Students with a knowledge about or an introduction to an area of study before taking a class in that area understand the material better and find it easier to study. The problem is, when a student has signed up for a class, how can they obtain this pre-knowledge? My answer is to introduce them to some basic soils concepts using a novel built around an interesting story. For my introductory soils class I have written such a novel titled No Place to Hide. Colleagues reviewing this book liken it to a Star Trek adventure, which involves hiding from an attacker in an asteroid field. Soils topics covered include the role of soil in removing contaminants from water and air, and producing food, charge on soil, particles size and shapes, how particles get their size and shape and pores and what they contain. Presentation and incorporation of No Place to Hide into the beginning Soils class has been done in several ways, which will be presented. Student response to the book and their evaluation of its usefulness will also be presented.