No sooner had I finished my last proof-read of Another Horizon than I felt eager to return to my AI/Human universe and continue the story of their joint exploration of the Galaxy.

Another World follows on from the previous novel almost directly. There is a roughly fifty-year gap that has been taken up by further developments in technology, science and society across human-occupied space. In that time, Argus has piloted the Mona’s Isle on its journey to 18 Scorpii. A few of the characters from the last novel will have cameo roles to play here, aiding, I hope, the continuity of the tale.

Once again, I’m not going to explain the Nexima Implants, or their history in any detail in this story, so if you need to know more, I’d suggest you read the first two novels. Suffice it to say that they are still an integral part of the society on all the worlds that humanity now occupies.

Similarly, the use of planetary and local gateways is now ubiquitous in Human space. People really do travel from planet to planet as easily as they do from one local town to the next.

The AIs have clearly had time to develop and mature yet further. They are now more openly visible, vocal and sociable. It is common to see an AI avatar almost anywhere and they visit and converse with their human and AI friends regularly. For most of humanity they are still seen rarely, but as a set of companions and associates who are now fully integrated into modern life.

Human populations beyond Earth have grown substantially as gateway technology has made emigration to the colonies cost-effective. The gateways are also ubiquitous on Earth and the colonies for point-to-point travel over all distances.

There was no shortage of people from Earth who wanted to try and live a slightly different life on a less-crowded planet. That doesn’t make places like Sevrin crowded, just a little more cosmopolitan.

As the first of the second generation of exploration ships near their destinations, mankind is clamouring for access to new worlds and new adventures.

First chapter will be published tomorrow in full.

David