Tower of the Lost Ways

By Ander Nesser

In the far future, a young woman named Aoi explores forbidden regions of her ancient city. She soon stumbles upon evidence of a possible looming catastrophe. But will the powerful elites of her society heed her warning before it is too late?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ander Nesser
• Release date: Sep 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301455379

Ander Nesser

Ander Nesser is a fiction author. He labored in several factories in his youth. After graduating university, he taught English in Asia. He wrote his first novel in Polynesia, where he lived for several years before moving to California.

Book preview

Tower of the Lost Ways

a novelette by

Ander Nesser

Text and Cover Art Copyright 2013 Ander Nesser

Scenes

One: All the Answers

Two: Programmed Inhibitions

Three: Historical Precedent

Four: Confidence and Faith

Five: Do Not Fear

One: All the Answers

Eao emerged from the shadows of the open arch. The cream-colored terrace floor now appeared to have shifting hues in the light of the night billboards. She walked hesitantly to the lone woman at the terrace's unguarded edge. Coming up alongside, she saw the face of Aoi and sighed. Eao opened her mouth, but Aoi spoke first.

The Moon outshines the advertisements, out there on the night plain. Eao looked out. Across Oaoi, the Nanotoxin Expanse, their view of the horizon was obscured. Brown fumes from the fungal stacks hung low over the sludge. Slick and glistening in the moonlight, the landscape was still. Aoi pulled her robe tighter around her shoulders. Eao turned back to her. The short, pale strip of fur on her head reflected a violet tint.

I've been looking for you, Eao said. You haven't updated your status message in hours. How are people supposed to know what you are doing if you never update? Behind them, the billboards on the tower wall were covered with faces, an indigo status message below each. Eao gestured to them. Look at their statuses, and you'll find not one time-stamped more than an hour ago--except yours.

Sorry, I've been busy, Aoi said, still staring outward.

But you're not doing anything now.

I'm thinking. It's an acquired skill, and requires concentration.

Eao's black eyes narrowed, and her gray forehead wrinkled. What? You have the strangest notions. Nobody is going to like you if you keep saying things like that.

Aoi turned and regarded her expressionlessly. What do you want?

Eao straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. I was going to ask you to come to a party later tonight. Not just because it would be fun, but it's also important for you to gather more contacts. You have the lowest number of followers of anyone's Profile Cube on Tier 35. She gestured to the glowing number on her