Seven Surrenders

It is a world in which near-instantaneous travel from continent to continent is free to all.

In which automation now provides for everybody’s basic needs.

In which nobody living can remember an actual war.

In which it is illegal for three or more people to gather for the practice of religion—but ecumenical “sensayers” minister in private, one-on-one.

In which gendered language is archaic, and to dress as strongly male or female is, if not exactly illegal, deeply taboo.

In which nationality is a fading memory, and most people identify instead with their choice of the seven global Hives, distinguished from one another by their different approaches to the big questions of life.

And it is a world in which, unknown to most, the entire social order is teetering on the edge of collapse.

Because even in utopia, humans will conspire. And also because something new has arisen: Bridger, the child who can bring inanimate objects to conscious life.

Ada Palmer

Seven Surrenders

Terra Ignota - 2

ePub r1.0

Watcher 01-02-2018

Original title: Seven Surrenders

Ada Palmer, 2017

Cover art: Victor Mosquera

Digital editor: Watcher

ePub base r1.2

SEVEN SURRENDERS

BEING A CONTINUATION OF Too Like the Lightning,

A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS of the year 2454

Written by MYCROFT CANNER, at the

REQUEST OF CERTAIN PARTIES.

Published with the permissions of:

The Romanova Seven-Hive Council Stability Committee

The Five-Hive Committee on Dangerous Literature

Ordo Quiritum Imperatorisque Masonicorum

The Cousins’ Commission for the Humane Treatment of Servicers

The Mitsubishi Executive Directorate

His Majesty Isabel Carlos II of Spain

And with the consent of all FREE AND UNFREE

LIVING PERSONS HEREIN PORTRAYED.

Qui veritatem desiderit, ipse hoc legat. Nihil obstat; nihil obstet.

Recommended.–Anonymous.

I won’t be certain who the killer is until I meet them, but if it is Mycroft, be merciful. Keep them alive, and safe, and working. You need them. If you have lost me, you need them. There are things I leave undone that only Mycroft Canner can complete.

—APOLLO MOJAVE.

CERTIFIED NONPROSELYTORY BY THE FOUR-HIVE COMMISSION ON RELIGION IN LITERATURE.

RATÉ D PAR LA COMMISSION EUROPÉENNE DES MEDIAS DANGEREUX.

Gordian Exposure Commission Content Ratings:

S4–Explicit but not protracted sexual scenes; rape; references to sex with violence; sexual acts of real and living persons.

V5–Explicit and protracted scenes of intentional violence; explicit but not protracted scenes of extreme violence; violence praised; recent incidents of global trauma; crimes of violence committed by real and living persons.

R5–Explicit and protracted treatment of religious themes without intent to convert; theological abuse; theological assault; recent incidents of global religious controversy; religious beliefs of real and living persons.

O3–Opinions likely to cause offense to selected groups and to the sensibilities of many; subject matter likely to cause distress or offense to the same.