The laws of physics change overnight. Gas ceases to ignite; electricity no longer flows. Millions die instantly when planes plummet from the sky. Millions more perish in the blackouts and riots that follow. Civilization reverts to a pre-industrial state. People become dependent on the molten metals that fall from the sky. Called exometals, they are woven into fabric and channeled into tools and can be activated with pure thought. The name qi is borrowed to apply to this energy.
In Lung Wei Village, Master Li orders his kung fu students to create qi-powered weapons. Many do quite well, but Cao Jinsong, a free spirit, creates a waterclock that fights, and it doesn't use qi. Not impressed, Master Li challenges the class to destroy it. They do so, with difficulty. Tadpole, Li's very own daughter, performs the coupe de grace. Having a crush on her, Cao leaves in disgrace,
Cao Jinsong grows up a hermit in the mountains. One day a Magistrate visits. By imperial decree he has been tasked with destroying a demon living at the edge of the kingdom. But the region is without qi. Hearing of Cao's infamous waterclock that fought without qi, he seeks him out, hoping he has another such waterclock. Adding to the drama, the demon has kidnapped Master Li's very own daughter, Tadpole. 300
Autorentext
Gary W. Shockley grew up in the Indiana countryside before moving to California by means of Pennsylvania and Oregon (it's a long story). Along the way he learned a thing or two.
He has made a living as software QA tester, software engineer, copy editor, and technical writer. But ever since he was a child, he has written stories. He is now an award-winning writer whose stories have appeared in various magazines and anthologies. Most of what he writes defies genre boundaries and could be called slipstream.
He currently lives in Mountain View, California, with his wife, Lori Ann White, herself an award-winning writer. They have a two cats, Manti and Stella.
Lori, Manti and Stella are currently working on their second novels.
Email: info@garywshockley.online