Russell - Knocking on Heavens Door

Praise for K NOCKING ON H EAVENS D OOR

In classic science fiction style, Russell presents a devastated world reformed into a seeming paleolithic paradise. [A] suspenseful and gripping tale.

William Seager , author of Natural Fabrications: Science, Emergence and Consciousness

Like Ursula K. Le Guin and Kim Stanley Robinson, Sharman Apt Russell tells stories of human reorientation within a radically reanimated world. An urgent story that immerses the reader in the agonizing entanglements and wonders of being.

Gib Prettyman , associate professor, Pennsylvania State University, associate editor, Resources for American Literary Study

Sharman Apt Russells vibrant new novel will enthrall readers with its vision of a future in which animism, panpsychism, and hard science come together to show us how the forces shaping consciousness and the universe are one and the same.

Imre Szeman , co-author of After Globalization

An intriguing and compelling tale of humanity struggling to recover its indigenous allegiance to Earth and Earth Law despite the genie of physical science having well and truly escaped from the bottle.

Freya Mathews , author of For Love of Matter: A Contemporary Panpsychism

A gripping readI couldnt put it down, but I didnt want it to end! Sharman Russell knows how to pay tribute to the great traditions of science fiction storytellingand how to make them new for the twenty-first century.

Lisa Yaszek , author of Galactic Suburbia and past president of the Science Fiction Research Association

With compelling characters, a driving rhythm, and a rich plot, Knocking on Heavens Door smoothly navigates between the principles of biology and physics, the mystique of animism, the politics of posthumanism, and the tropes of science fiction.

Keren Omry , assistant professor, University of Haifa, and vice president of the Science Fiction Research Association

Russell has a knack for fast-paced action and poetic turns of phrase, and readers will turn the pages quickly. A wild and enjoyable ride.

Stephanie Vie , associate professor, University of Central Florida, and author of (E)dentity

A bed of bones, a sea of ash a new age in science and a world rebornthe backdrop of Sharman Apt Russells literary masterpiece, Knocking on Heavens Door . So immersive and profound is this beautiful tale of discovery that it guarantees to inspire the metaphysicist in every reader. Russells implementation of panpsychist theory brings this book to life as one of the most extraordinary sci-fis of our time. Rich with philosophical themes.

Jack Symes , author of In Defense of Strong Emergentist Panpsychism, University of Birmingham

Russells earned a spot next to Margaret Atwood and Daniel Quinn for sparking readers to reflect on the tensions between the natural environment and our ever-evolving technology.

Sean Murray , associate professor, St. Johns University, and author of Composition Incorporated: Turbo Capitalism, Higher Education, and the Teaching of Writing

Even though the world has been utterly changed by a virus, where the only contact left between continents is the Internet, Russells novel remains steadfastly optimistic. A refreshing alternative to near-future dystopias, she offers a glimpse of a future primitive in which people live more sustainably and equitably, sustained by a sense of wonder when nature turns out to have been panpsychic all along.

Melody Jue , author of Vampire Squid Media

Copyright 2016 by Sharman Apt Russell

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design and cover illustration by Ivan Zanchetta

Print ISBN: 978-1-63158-068-0

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-63158-077-2

Printed in the United States of America

To all writing teachers past, present, and future

PART ONE

Brad understood why The Return had become sacred to the tribes. One hundred fifty years ago, the supervirus had wiped out almost every human being on the planet. In responsecombining the power of the worldwide web with the psychic comfort of hunting and gatheringthe survivors had recreated a Paleoterrific lifestyle, a stable and flourishing culture. Humans lived peacefully now among the resurrected Paleos. They beat their little drums and sang their heritage songs and decorated their camel skin tents. Moreover, the latest discoveries in physics only confirmed their cultural animism. Utopia! They had already forgotten the lesson they were supposed to learn.

CHAPTER ONE

CLARE

Clare breathed in the smell of blood. Sharp, metallic, in the air, on her skin. She slipped her knife into the space between the joint and bone of the mares hipa small young female but still too much meat, more than enough for their next few days of hunting. Tonight she and Jon would feast on the rump with garlic and onion, some saltbush leaves, perhaps a mint paste. If they followed the stream east, they might find watercress. Clare felt happy thinking about her dinner. She felt lust. A fervent yearning. Her mouth filled with saliva. A violent tenderness. Her heart expanded, blossomed, pressed against her ribcage so that she mewled without sound, kittenish. She slunk forward, barely in control, through the grass

No, no, these were not her thoughts.

Cat! Cat! Clare yelled and stood, dropping the knife, picking up her spear from the bloodied ground. Her hunting companion rushed to join her, his spear also in his hand.

Where? Jon asked.

On the rock ledge above them. Of course, a perfect place for sleeping and drowsing and waiting for prey. Clare and Jon would never have lingered near such a ledge if that werent where the mare had been, their own chosen prey, the foolish young female separated from her herd and resting in the shade. Clare pointed and began backing away, always facing the low rock cliff. Jon understood and fanned off to the side.

Muck-a-luck. Clares hands were wet with blood. She took the time to dry her palms on her leather shirt. The saber-toothed cat was still slinking, still seconds away, his presence betrayed by that telepathic, reckless yearning. No one knew why these hunters and scavengers lusted for human flesh the way they did. Some receivers in the tribe claimed this was more than hunger and more like love, a desire to be with humans, bonded with humans, inside each other. Clare found herself muttering, Youd like me to be inside you, would you? as she pushed down her fear and gathered up her anger. This was her mare, not his, her life, not his. He could have the mare when she was done. She had a tasty dinner planned. She was on a hunting trip with a friend. She had worked hard and deserved this.