Because of fire, mankind has moved from caves to farming civilization; because of coal, mankind has entered the steam age; because of oil, mankind has entered the industrial age; because of the difference engine, mankind has entered the era of information and technology. So what will the next era of mankind be like? Is it an era of interstellar travel, or is it an infinitely lamentable doomsday wasteland...
This novel and its characters are purely fictitious. Any similarity is purely coincidental and should not be imitated.
