Last of the Immortals (The Jessica Keller Chronicles Book 3) (38 page)

Others

Pilots

The
Republic of Aquitaine

The
Fribourg Empire

Ballard

Author’s Notes

It’s always an interesting case study, trying to envision what the world will be like in the distant future. Jessica Keller was born in 13,405 CE. That’s eleven thousand years and change from now. Earth itself was destroyed, rendered uninhabitable, in the Eleventh Millennium.

What will we be like?

I take solace in studying archaeology and finding out what we as a species were like thousands of years in the past: how we lived, how we worked, how we celebrated life. Other than the toys, not a lot has changed. I don’t imagine much will change in the future.

Humans are humans. And the AI’s we build, if they achieve true sentience, will most likely be human. Suvi is, but that was because several people along the way took pains to help her grow into something more than just a powerfully–smart system. Jessica’s parents did the same. Reminded her what it meant to be human.

What does it mean to be human, anyway?

It means having hopes, dreams, desires. It means wanting to be in control of your own destiny as much as possible, so that what does happen to you happens because you made the choices to be here today, and would make the same choices tomorrow.

The same holds for all the characters here. They chose this path, certain they are doing the right thing. Within their cultural matrix, their heritage, they are. But not everyone agrees on right. And thus you have wars.

I’ve talked other places about some of the fundamental differences between the
Republic of Aquitaine
and the
Fribourg Empire
. They both mean well, but want different outcomes based on different cultural values. And then you throw in a woman who was once an officer and warship of
The Concord
itself, and you have a mess.

And, as with the real world, resolution frequently does not include happily ever after. Ours is a world of friction, confusion, randomness. How we answer that is the most important thing. Showing up to the battle is ninety percent of it.

This is the third Jessica Keller novel. I plan several more, but I wanted to bring things to a resting point here, the book–end to the story we began in
Auberon
and continued in
Queen of the Pirates
. Changes are in store, but I don’t want to spoil the fun.

There are also other stories set in this place, all of which contribute to the tapestry that is the
Alexandria Station Universe
. If you have enjoyed this, there are also books starring Javier Aritza as
The Science Officer
; Doyle Iwakuma; and Henri Baudin. There will be more, just because I have ten thousand years of space travel in which to work, and a variety of stories to tell.

A note on the present

No book is born in isolation. I might have had an idea, but writing it is just the first step on a long journey. Several other people helped make this story better than it would have otherwise been, and it would be badly remiss of me not to tell them how much I appreciate their patience, understanding and help. Sil and Alexei caught mistakes in language, in concept, in culture that might have otherwise made it to print. Thank you.

And I simply would not be here without my (unindicted) partner in crime, my love, my wife. Leah made it all possible, and continues to make it possible every day. I simply stand amazed that I got so lucky.

A note on the future

Aquitaine has many elements of the old Roman Republic in antiquity. Their culture, their language, their belief structures are different than ours. I have tried to translate the vocabulary and concepts into terms a reader today would understand. Measurements are based on the modern metric system, not because I believe it will still be in use then, but because it makes a handy system many readers will understand. I could have just as easily used the Imperial English system, or the Chinese. Or the Roman.

I hope you will enjoy…

shade and sweet water

bd

West of the Mountains, WA

October 2015

Read about Henri Baudin, one of the founding fathers of
The Republic of Aquitaine
in
The Story Road
.

Henri sets out across space to find the perfect wood for his violins. However, star travel takes time, as humanity still digs itself out of the Great Darkness.

On his quest, he gets help both from his shipmates and his muse, the unreachable lady of his dreams. Until his visions lead him to Suvi, the last genie in the last bottle, and they forever alter the course of human civilization.

Available at your favorite retailers.