The Lamplighter: The Redemption of Civilization

[This novel has a relatively slow start, but an absolutely vast world. It weaves major real-world civilizations into a fantasy setting and brings historical figures into the story.] Every civilization will come to an end. This world is shackled by a predetermined ceiling. Every civilization, no matter how prosperous, will hit a bottleneck when it reaches the height of its development. Over the long ages, countless civilizations have risen. They were brilliant, thriving, and prosperous. Yet without exception, they all came to an end. Civilization stagnated, faith gradually crumbled, and hope turned to despair. Then, as each civilization reached its final hour, a Child of Civilization, born of its will, came into being. They might be a single life, a group of lives, or not living beings at all. They might be creators, saviors, or reformers. The tangled history dazzles the eye, and the process of evolution seems to unfold in endless splendor. But in essence, all of it is civilization’s attempt to save itself when faced with utter despair. Confronted with a world whose limits were set long ago and the painful lessons of history, countless civilizations began their struggle to cross the river of existence. Fang Hui stood on the roof of a ninety-nine-story building, gazing into the distance. He closed his eyes, lifted the lamp, and murmured, “Civilization’s salvation. Restart once more!”