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

When Chen Mu got back to the small building, he was stunned to find it unrecognizable.

He could hear Bogner shouting powerfully from the distance. "Give me some spirit, everyone! Aren't you the best at making traps, Hertha? Bring out all the tricks you know; do you understand? All of them! Good grief, we really looked bad in front of the boss today! Give me some spirit, you all! We are the elite! Elite! Do you know what elite means? It's bringing in more money than ordinary card artisans and doing more difficult things! How can we demand anything ordinary from ourselves..."

Bogner was taken aback when he suddenly saw Chen Mu, but he laughed. "You've returned, Boss!"

Chen Mu looked around inside the building, where in all dark corners of the floor, ceiling, and walls were some strange little things. Pointing them out, he asked with curiosity, "What are those?"

The Mysterious Madam