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

The man in charge at the Chilei card artisan service center, Lee Carville, was completely flushed in the face. He was panting heavily and had his tie loosened, as though it was affecting his somewhat erratic breathing.

He was a respected man in the Pascal District if one came to think of it. However, that's all he was. On normal days, if a party of any importance was being held by any of the families, he might receive an invitation. But he was far from capable of inviting so many big figures with real authority.

Many of the VIPs present, like Qiao Fei, Mr. Stinger, and other such regional leaders, were people he usually couldn't possibly be in contact with. Even so, on that day, those rarely seen VIPs were all gathered at his tiny card artisan service center. His reputation was greatly enhanced.

Judgment