Nissus

THE STORY

PREMISE

Humanity remade

Humans—unmodified humans—are no longer dominant on Earth. In their place, the transhuman Bionics use microscopic nanobots to adjust their genes, reshape their bodies, and perhaps even change human nature itself.

SETTING

An oasis called Petram

Only in a few traditionalist communities do people still attempt to live as they always have, resisting the allure of the new technology. In one such oasis, seventeen-year-old Agnes just wants to live in peace.

CONFLICT

The disappearances

But when her friends—and then her family—start to disappear, Agnes knows the time for complacency is over. She must reunite her family and convince the rest of Petram to stand up to the Bionics.

STAKES

Into Nissus

Her journey takes her deep into the center of Bionic power: the futuristic city of Nissus. Here she discovers a troubling new world where the Bionics seem to control everything—weather, animals, perhaps even her own mind.

Will she truly do anything to save Petram?

EXCERPT

Agnes knew it was practically a miracle they had escaped detection so far, not to mention the fact that they had managed to find passageways through the city that were sufficiently hidden from their pursuers’ view.

Unfortunately, they were certain that a manhunt was underway. Twice they had heard people discussing the “security breach” while the two of them were hiding, and once, they were sure a search party had passed within shouting distance. Perhaps worse, Agnes could see that Willym was reaching the end of his strength—he’d been wobbly to start with, and hours of frantic scrambling to escape Nissus had left him gasping and near collapse.

Time for some hard choices.

— NISSUS

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THE AUTHOR

Carl Sorenson

Carl writes science fiction and fantasy driven by an intriguing premise matched with a good story. When an idea has been developing in his head for a while and won't leave, it's time to start writing.

His debut novel, Nissus, reflects a deep interest in how science and technology shape people—their experiences, their values, their sense of purpose. Professionally he develops software that models the operation and economics of the electric grid, and he's passionate about human rights, civic life, education, and the climate–energy nexus.

When he isn't reading or writing, he's often hiking the trails and mountains of North Carolina with his family.

Humanity remade

An oasis called Petram

The disappearances

Into Nissus

Inside Nissus

Carl Sorenson

Read more of Carl's stories

Beginnings Anthology