Too Like the Lightning Book One of Terra Ignota

MycroftCannerisaconvict.Forhiscrimesheisrequired,asisthecustomofthe25thcentury,towandertheworldbeingasusefulashecantoallhemeets.CarlyleFosterisasensayer--aspiritualcounselorinaworldthathasoutlawedthepublicpracticeofreligion,butwhichalsoknowsthattheinnerlivesofhumanscannotbewishedaway.TheworldintowhichMycroftandCarlylehavebeenbornisasstrangetoour21st-centuryeyesasourswouldbetoanativeofthe1500s.Itisahard-wonutopiabuiltontechnologically-generatedabundance,andalsooncomplexandmandatorysystemsoflabellingallpublicwritingandspeech.Whatseemtousnormalgenderdistinctionsarenowdistinctlytabooinmostsocialsituations.Andmostoftheworld'spopulationisaffiliatedwithglobe-girdlingclansofthelike-minded,whoseendlesseconomicandculturalcompetioniscarefullymanagedbycentralplannersofinestimablesubtlety.Tousitseemslikeamadcombinationofheavenandhell.Tothem,itseemslikenormallife.Andinthisworld,MycroftandCarlylehavestumbledonthewildcardthatmaydestablizethesystem:theboyBridger,whocaneffortlesslymakehiswishescometrue.Whocan,itwouldseem,bringinanimateobjectstolife...,