Welcome to Earthworld

By Eric Kent Edstrom

In this humorous science fiction satire, posthumans Zee and Dox visit the amusement planet of Earthworld, hoping to get in touch with their human roots. While Zee merely wants a human-themed wedding, Dox has a darker purpose for his visit.

Join them and their Marktwain, an Artificial guide, as they explore the history of the human race as pieced together from the remains of Earth's debris field.

This is a 8200 word short story by the author of The Undermountain Saga.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Undermountain Books LLC
• Release date: Jun 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781386149200

Eric Kent Edstrom

Eric is the author of over a dozen novels and numerous short stories.

Book preview

WELCOME TO EARTHWORLD

By Eric Kent Edstrom

Copyright © 2013 by Eric Kent Edstrom

All rights Reserved.

Published by Undermountain Books LLC

www.undermountainbooks.com

This book is licensed for your enjoyment only. All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

Also by Eric Kent Edstrom

The Undermountain Saga

Undermountain

Afterlife

Starkiller

Shadow of the Oak (A Sal Van Sleen Novella)

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Welcome to Earthworld

The sign over the door read: Welcome to Earthworld.

Smaller arrow shaped signs pointed left and right.

Ooh, let's go see the gift shop! Zee said, grabbing Dox's arm and pulling him toward the left corridor.

Dox shivered and pulled his arm away. Not now, Zee. You spent too much time in the shower.

Zee giggled as she followed after him. I know. The water is so sensual!

Dox had opted not to take the shower. It was bad enough having these strange clothes touching his body. He shook is arms as if he could fling off all the sense-data coming through them.

Both of them wore loose pants and flowing blouses. Zee had chosen purple, saying that it was the most authentically female color ever. Dox wore black.

They followed the corridor to the observation atrium. Wide windows gave a marvelous view of the amusement planet of Earthworld. The blue marble, as the marketing feed had called it.

An Artificial stood waiting, human-formed with a shock of white hair and a bushy white mustache.

He's wearing a suit, Zee said, voice thrilling with excitement. It's so authentic.

Dox some doubts about that. The truth was nobody knew much of anything about Earth, and less about the humans who had once lived on it.

So who are you supposed to be? Dox asked the Artificial.

I'm your Marktwain, your personal Earthworld guide and chaperone.

Dox looked around. Where is everybody else?

Oh! Didn't I tell you, Dox? Zee said. I ordered the private tour. We've got him all to ourselves.

Dox sighed. That was going to cost a fortune in reputation units. The Marktwain motioned them through a hatch. Step into the airtram and we'll descend.

They followed him into a standard orbit-to-surface shuttle. Dox had rarely taken on physical form during his