Orbit Books: Macrolife
- 288 pages
- 11 hours of reading
Subtitled "A Mobile Utopia," this pioneering novel explores the significance of space habitats in human history, presenting a unique vision of spacefaring. It depicts a dynamic utopian civilization that rises above historical failures. Set in 2021, the story follows the Bulero family, owners of a wealthy corporation. During a family reunion, an industrial accident thrusts the corporation into crisis, leading to global disaster. As they are vilified, the Buleros escape to a space colony, where young Richard Bulero discovers that humanity's salvation lies in macrolife—mobile, self-replicating habitats. A millennium later, these communities have expanded beyond the solar system, leading to conflicts with natural planets. John Bulero, a cloned descendant, falls in love with a woman from a natural world, confronting the harsh realities of her life. When his mobile community returns to the solar system, a tense clash of civilizations ensues. One hundred billion years later, as macrolife proliferates, it faces the impending demise of nature. John Bulero, now changed and seeking individuality, grapples with the universe's potential collapse into a black hole. Inspired by the prospects of space settlements and human aspirations, this visionary work offers a profound speculation on the future of humanity and nature, enriched with vivid imagery and memorable characters.