Black Light Express
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Toubit —
A world of shallow oceans and low-lying “sandbar” continents connected by K-gate to Grand Central. It was ruled by the Vankopan family until the reign of the “Seafood King” Mad Eddie Vankopan (2760–62), who declared himself emperor and tried to invade Grand Central. After a rather one-sided battle with Railforce, the Vankopan’s Corporate Marine Corps was disbanded and the planet brought under the direct control of the Empire.
Trains —
Technically, of course, a train consists of a locomotive and a number of passenger cars or freight cars. In everyday speech, however, it is often used to refer to the locomotive itself. The first intelligent locos were built by the Guardians, and their minds are still based on coding handed down from the Guardians. Many people believe that the great locomotives are more intelligent than human beings, but experts claim they are on a similar mental level as a bright human, although their intelligence is different from that of humans in several ways. Some never bother speaking to their passengers, others like to chat or sing, and some have formed enduring friendships with individual humans. If properly maintained, they can function for several hundred years. The finest locomotives come from the great engine-shops of the Foss and Helden families.
Locomotives choose their names from the deep archives of the Datasea, sometimes borrowing the titles of forgotten songs, poems, or artworks.
Vohu Mana —
The fact that this Guardian has not been seen for many centuries, and never appeared in any interface larger or more impressive than a winged pug, has not stopped it from becoming the focus for a devoted data cult. Its followers believe that Vohu Mana spends its time in the Datasea constructing a virtual afterlife, where people’s social media profiles are used to create digital “ghosts” that live on after they die. Vohuists try to upload every detail of their life to as many social media platforms as possible, in the hope that if they can give the Guardian enough material to work with they will live forever.
Vostok Brains —
The most mysterious of the Guardians, legend tells that these three entities were the first artificial intelligences to be created, and that they went on to create the other Guardians. Unlike their successors, the Vostok Brains have never sought out human company, and although there is a human cult that sends them data prayers, they have never answered. Some people believe that their lack of interest in human affairs shows that they are more primitive than the other Guardians. Others claim that they are, in fact, far superior, and simply can’t be bothered with us.
Wire Dollies —
A derogatory name for Motorik.
Black Light Express is first published in the United States in 2017
by Switch Press
a Capstone imprint
1710 Roe Crest Drive
North Mankato, Minnesota 56003
www.switchpress.com
Text copyright © Philip Reeve 2016
“Black Light Express” was originally published in English in 2016. This edition is published by arrangement with Oxford University Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on the Library of Congress website.
ISBN: 978-1-63079-096-7 (jacketed hardcover)
ISBN: 978-1-63079-098-1 (ebook)
Book design by Kay Fraser
Shutterstock: Guliveris, NASA images, warin keawchookul
For my excellent friend Sarah McIntyre