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

It really surprised Chen Mu that the wild beasts in the Heavenly Drum Village District could produce and use energy. In his understanding, the wild beasts depended on their tough muscles in their struggles with humans. The twin-hooked beast he'd encountered before had hide so armor-like and a body so tough that even a high-level card artisan would be in a lot of trouble if they encountered one. For the dingbird to be able to use energy meant they were a lot more dangerous.

"What other wild beasts can use energy?" Chen Mu suddenly opened his mouth to ask.

"Use energy? Lots of wild beasts!" Brenton was taken aback. That was the first time that youth had spoken to him. He had the impression that the youth almost never opened his mouth. The man beside him holding the fleshy dog never spoke either.

The Snowflake Card Artisan Team