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 he had first drawn up the plan, Bogner had been clear about their advantages. Their biggest one was to have a grand-master-level card master. Perhaps that would only provide a limited actual advantage in the eyes of ordinary people, but Bogner had keenly seen its latent power.

So, he had decided to bring that advantage into play to the greatest extent.

As he saw it, a grand-master-level card master's greatest strength wasn't in how many powerful cards he could make, but it was rather in his powerful design ability. Of course, that would have limited use on an ordinary team. However, if an outstanding commander were added to the mix, enough energy would be released to shock people.

Chen Mu was quite surprised by the plan laid out in front of him. He had never thought such a creative scheme could come from the hands of someone who was neither a card artisan nor a card master.

Preparing for War (II)