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

"You really won't go with us?" Bogner was watching Xiao Liqian—the younger generation of his old friend. The hardships for a woman to be holding up such a base were easy to imagine.

Xiao Liqian shook her head. Her smiling face remained light but sincere. "This is the only thing my uncle left, and I can't abandon it. I don't have great ambitions, and I only want to run the Hughes Chamber of Commerce well. You don't have to worry about me, Uncle. I'm pretty awesome!"

It was just like Hughes for her not to have ambitions. Seeing her serious face brought up the image of that middle-aged man to Bogner. Things remained while people changed. He was the only one left now.

His partner that year… Thinking about it, his heart ached. His face remained calm, however, as he took out some cards and gave them to Xiao Liqian. "The boss wanted me to give these to you. Use them to recruit a few aces. Take care."

Novelty