Joey Stein is a hyperspace theorist, member of the Brandt Dynasty Expedition and one of the team of five that was sent to investigate the Faller artefact known as the Forest, along with Laura Brandt. After two of their team were killed and copied by the Fallers, Joey was caught and was partially absorbed by a Faller egg when he managed to contrive a method of escape for Laura, even though he knew he would be killed in the process.