Fang Xiang

This is both a work of science fiction and an exploration of the meaning of life, love, literature and art. Brainpower is no longer the main ingredient for being human in this far distant future world.  Spirituality, physical balance, and diligence all come together as integrity for Chen Mu, the Card Apprentice.  The cards which Chen Mu masters in his own scrappy way, distill all the powers of the cosmos –  human and nonhuman –  into something that is not a book, not technology, and neither art nor magic, but is these and more.  Learn about these strange cards, which can embody everything you might imagine for the future of technology, but also a future beyond technology which promotes the best, and sometimes the worst, from mankind’s past.

The Card Apprentice

A youth of about 12 appeared when the courtyard door was opened. He shouted in surprise when he saw the purple-clothed young woman. "Sister Butchie!" He turned behind him and shouted into the courtyard, "Ma, Sister Butchie is here!"

The young woman called Sister Butchie bent down and pinched the youth's childish cheeks back and forth while laughing away. "Ha! Paxy is still so tender! This skin makes me so jealous!" Paxy was wailing his complaints but likely knew resistance was futile, and he would just have to endure the ravages of the purple-clothed young lady.

Not long after, there was the sound of rapid footsteps, and a 40-something-year-old woman wearing an apron came rushing out of the house. As soon as she saw the purple-clothed young woman, she called with a voice full of excitement, "Butchie!"