Schismatrix Plus

by Bruce Sterling

It doesn’t matter that you and I know it’s a fraud, Mr. Dze. A symbol has meaning if someone gives it meaning. And they’re giving it everything they have.”

“A tragedy to those who feel. A comedy to those who think,”

Science tore the human race to bits. When anarchy hit, people struggled for community. The politicians chose enemies so that they could bind their followers with hate and terror.

Mankind had always been surrounded by the miraculous. Nothing much had ever come of it. Under the shadow of cosmic revelations, life still swathed itself in comforting routine.

Time had a way of making passion into work. He had what he wanted. He had his dream. He had to live it and breathe it and do its budget.

He mourned mankind, and the blindness of men, who thought that the Kosmos had rules and limits that would shelter them from their own freedom. There were no shelters. There were no final purposes. Futility, and freedom, were Absolute.