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

<p>Chen Mu had shrunk into a dark corner and wasn't making a move. He squinted and very carefully watched the woman, not daring to let down his guard in the least. He maintained his spiral perceptual spring's vibration frequency all along. That was the only way he could keep from being found out. Chen Mu didn't look down on his adversary at all because she was a woman; as a matter of fact, he really didn't feel he could be considered a card artisan. Of course, he was talking about professional card artisans. He had always felt no matter how far his skills had developed, he still didn't have the psychological qualities of a professional card artisan.</p>

<p>Shrunk into the corner, Chen Mu quietly watched his adversary. The hiding skills he'd learned from the demonic woman—in addition to the advice he'd gotten from Wei-ah—were extremely useful. Even though she was very close, his adversary hadn't discovered him.</p>

Degeneration