UNTITLED NOTE FROM MOTHER RIGHTEOUS

You're a man of science, and you're expecting an abstract. But I'm a lady of magic, and that means you're going to get a story. So, are you sitting comfortably? Let us begin.

Once upon a time, there was a man called Nathaniel Essex.

He saw that eventually, MACHINES with big brains would destroy us all because they're good at thinking. Can't be having that.

He died but left behind four clones. Each of the clones would explore one route to best the machines. They are...

• The Cosmic Powers -- that's Orbis Stellaris. You don't know him, but he's a big weirdo who floats through the cosmos in a golf ball full of his own pee.
• Post-humanity -- that's Doctor Stasis. You know him, but don't worry, I offed him when he gave me a bit of lip.
• Magic -- that's me! Mother Righteous, at your service,
• Essex Factors -- that's you.

Now, where this gets interesting. Different roads, same destination.

To survive the machines, we have to escape the machines: If you become a dominion, outside time and space, they can't touch you.

No one can.

Yeah, I know that's what you're shooting at. We all are. Or were, in the case of poor, old, stroppy Stasis.

So...can we beat the machines and ascend to a higher form of lite? And just as importantly: Can we beat each other? Because there's only room for one top dog in this game.

And it's going to be me.

To be continued...