Fractale

Somewhere about 300 years from now, people fulfilled Rousseau"s vow and returned to nature. Noisy cities, smoke‑belching factories, and the very need to toil disappeared – the care of daily bread was taken over by a mechanical god, a network of supercomputers called Fractal. In return, all that was required was to "pray" regularly, dumping the day"s accumulated information into bottomless data repositories. The programmers of Fractal turned into cult servants, and a theocracy – albeit unburdening – took hold on Earth. Life became simpler, although outwardly the level of technology had regressed to the 20th century; everyone could have avatar doubles, delegating routine tasks to them while wandering in search of new experiences and entertainment. The population dropped sharply, and people lost roots and attachments, becoming in essence an impersonal rolling mass. Young Klein – an atypical inhabitant of the "new order," who had not lost interest in the heritage of the past – both its objects and values. Until recently he led an ordinary life: dining with his parents" doubles, listening to old songs, admiring nature – and he waited; he waited knowing that something strange and unusual would happen. Thus he met Freina – a wandering priestess of Fractal, who in brief hours of acquaintance fell in love with the boy and left him "the key to the world" – an amazing girl Ness, embodiment of energy, kindness and naivety. But whether Ness is a human or an avatar – does the main hero have the right to open with this key the door that seems to hold the twilight of the world and the unraveling of false gods?