The Devil's sons. Vol. 5

Chloé Wallerand

Description

What happens when civilization tries to knit itself back together and some of the pieces don't quite fit? At·all.

Notice to All Terrans

Under the sun, you have the whole of Terra, ancient womb of all life. Above the sun, we have the inhospitable void.
The void imposes a set of constraints completely different from those under which mankind evolved. Under these constraints we have evolved into a separate strain of humanity. It is possible for some not-just-any Terrans to become ones of us. Millions of Terrans rose into the void without becoming ones of us, and perished without a trace – all of them.
If you continue to try to invade us, we will continue to absorb those who adapt and dispose of the rest as economically as can. There are easier ways to suicide. In either case, they will never serve you, nor will you ever see them again.
If you continue to try to assault us, your 3rd Dark Ages will last forever.

This is a box·set of the 4-volume Strains saga: 1) Above the Sun, 2) An Imperfect Storm, 3) The Guardian Dæmons and 0) The Ball Hab. An experimental hybrid, this is very·hard science·fiction that gives no quarter to fantasy fans. At·all.

Strain 1: Above the Sun = the story of StarShip Prosperity.
A strain is a sub·species. When a group is cut in 2, and the pieces are kept apart for long enough, in reunion each will discover th'other to be a separate strain.
– If you change who you are, even to survive, then it's not you that survives, it's some·one else.
– Right. It's called evolution – a popular alternative to extinction.

Strain 2: An Imperfect Storm = the story of Habitat Xenophage.
To strain is to apply tension or compression. At the breaking·point of a material, the strains upon it come to an end. At the breaking·point of a society, they first begin in earnest.
– We hope to be forgotten by posterity. Either they'll be no·thing at·all like us, or they'll be no·thing at·all, period.

Strain 3: The Guardian Dæmons = the story of Habitat Gibraltar.
To strain is to sift, to filter. Natural·selection creates some·thing new by straining a small group from a large one. Likewise unnatural·selection.
– History is broken. Repeating it would be such a luxury, if only that were still an option.

Strain 0: The Ball Hab = the story of LaboratoryShip AltaScotia.
A strain is a section of music. No sound travels thru void. Every sound within void contributes to strains
of soothing defiance – every sound and every soul. Each silence is an alarm.
– Since we're slowly becoming alien, how do we know when we're not human anymore?
– When humanity has gone extinct, and we have not.

There were originally no seat·belts on this ride, now quite a few, yet it remains likely that some readers will get ejected along the way. Sorry, your safety was never a consideration.
If you're still wondering whether I'm an AI, now would be a good time to turn·back – no need to run. If you're running to the defense of orthodoxy, then do stand down, for that·way lies extinction, coming·up fast.

sf ∩ f = Ø

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