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 usual, Andre patrolled the streets. Behind him, all the men held their heads up high, looking around, with a satisfied look on their faces. Andre was composed, and there was no sign of joy on his hardened face—as if nothing had happened.

Pedestrians along the road looked at Andre with more fear than ever before. The streets of Fort Mendelssohn were more barren and deserted than it used to be, many stores were closed.

In the past few days, the news about that day spread like wildfire.

Andre's betrayal ended the battle with a single blow. Many people scolded him for being ungrateful, but more people thanked him. So far, there had been no massacre that people were most worried about.

None sympathized with Sir Elmo's death. He almost brought the entire city down to hell with him because of his stupidity.

The Comparison