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

As they were walking, Chen Mu asked Angie, "What was your standing after the last playoff?"

Angie, who always had a calm and seasoned expression, flushed unusually red as he stammered, "Fifty-eighth."

"Fifty-eighth…" Chen Mu said thoughtfully, "It must have been hard." Although he didn't know the level of difficulty for the so-called Dongrui Playoffs, he wasn't so arrogant to think it would be easy to go from 58th to fourth.

"There are 60 teams altogether," added Tai-shu Ying, who was following behind. Jiang Ling was covering her mouth and snickering. Tai-shu Ying looked quite displeased as she muttered, "What do you mean 58th? It's third last! Because of that, Grandpa taught Daddy a lesson. Hmph. Ma Hu is just a big-chested, muscle-bound guy with no brains!"

Angie turned green and rushed to correct her. "Being big-chested without a brain refers to women, miss."