In the twenty-first century, the distinction between human and machine has become increasingly ambiguous, as people augment their bodies with mechanical implants and robots are enhanced with human tissue. Against this backdrop, cyborg superagent Major Motoko Kusanagi is tasked with tracking down the most elusive and menacing terrorists and cybercriminals, including "ghost hackers" who can infiltrate and manipulate the human/machine interface, effectively turning people into puppets to carry out their nefarious plans. As Major Kusanagi pursues the trail of a master hacker known as the Puppeteer, her investigation leads her into a realm that transcends the boundaries of information and technology, where the fundamental nature of consciousness and the human soul are radically redefined.