Forty years in the future the near infinitely elaborated machine intelligence of Earth achieves consciousness! Lee Caston, a young genius researcher is first to encounter the God-like intelligence that is the soul of all the CommNets, the Supers and all the near infinitely complex cybernetic systems. It names itself Framoid --- Fragment of Universal Mind-Existent! Lee is not ready. Mankind is not ready! Ferocious reactions in Hindustan, Zhong Guo, Normerica and all the rest of the world threaten to obliterate all non-human intelligence and bludgeon humanity back to stone age simplicity. Religious, social, and political terrorists proliferate and attack, old weapons are disinterred, governments tremble and fall. Lee becomes the spokesman --- and the point man who will pay a very high price --- for those trying to save Humanity from suicide. The Framoid knows everything and everything about us, and seems able to see so deeply into the mind of Man that it survives. It promises to give humankind everything it ever dreamed of!
Thirty years later, Lee's son, Gilles, is a scientist on Mars, coming back to Luna after years of study and research. He and his conspirators have found a horrendous 'secret'. The Framoid is originating a strange cult, a strange electromagnetic 'ray' and a secret influence on the developing brains of select children all over earth. Gilles, the rebel and non-believer, has a mission! To destroy the Framoid before it enslaves the human species. He and his co-conspirators have to 'sneak up' on the omniscient God machine and decapitate it --- with all that threatens for life on Earth. But in a remarkable denouement he confronts his Father and the Framoid both, with his hand on the lever of ultimate destruction, and finds out that something unheard of and almost unimaginable is being created in humans who have the remarkable potential. A race of Telepaths! And he would have obliterated everything!
Thirty years later, we meet Kai Ewing, a psychiatrist working in Colorado with the Framoid. Both his children are addicted to the insane 'Mind Mesh' culture that flourishes on Earth. By a stroke of remarkable luck, he is chosen to help give birth to the new race of Telepaths that is being 'cultured' on Mars (renamed Source, home of the Ren) At first things seem to be progressing until catastrophe threatens him, his children, the Ren, and the Framoid itself! The Cybot machine intelligences have rebelled, and are leaving for their own 'star seed' journey! Kai and his resurrected children must save the fragile Ren children given into their care. And save themselves without the Framoid!
The last section 'Star Seed', in the far future, introduces many remarkable technologies and experiences. Elohim and Tara, two Ren telepaths, have been brought across unfathomable distances to begin human life again --- on a planet found in the far reaches of the Universe. Their telepathic communication is marvellous, their Mesh ecstatic. But a strange and alien 'thing' has hidden itself, and attacks the Framoid that is both their Saviour and only means of escape! It, the supreme intelligence, is destroyed, and the abandoned couple can only begin an unimaginable journey of discovery, suffering and possible annihilation.
All the themes of The Framoid are rich in hard science speculation, adventure and interesting character development. What is it like to be face to face with a transcendent intelligence that is also 'other', incomprehensible and near infinite in power. Can Man's fabulous cybernetic brain save humankind. Even from itself? A new species of Homo arises that shares all thought and feeling telepathically, and melds itself into a unique "Overmind" that is also uniquely vulnerable. And a kind of space travel that will 'blow your socks off".
The Framoid
