Sublime

Helward is about to join one of the guilds which govern and operate the city of Earth. “It was an honour and a donning of responsibility,” he tells us, a phrasing which warns any experienced reader of science fiction that the protagonist is about to confront a settled society, and a fixed understanding of the world, against which he will necessaril

dudgeon

merlon,

‘You’re our longest-serving contributor,’ said Carleton, flinching at the bang. ‘Our most admired. Indeed I should say our most popular.’ I’m beginning to speak like him, he thought: Thomas Hart is catching, that’s the trouble. ‘I’ve often heard it said that it’s a consolation – that’s the general feeling, as I said to the board – to wake on Thursd