The thrilling conclusion to the internationally bestselling Long Earth
series explores the greatest question of all: What is the meaning of
life?
2070-71. Nearly six decades after Step Day, a new society continues to
evolve in the Long Earth. Now, a message has been received: "Join us."
The Next--the hyper-intelligent post-humans--realize that the missive
contains instructions for kick-starting the development of an immense
artificial intelligence known as The Machine. But to build this computer
the size of an Earth continent, they must obtain help from the more
populous and still industrious worlds of mankind.
Meanwhile, on a trek in the High Meggers, Joshua Valienté, now nearing
seventy, is saved from death when a troll band discovers him. Living
among the trolls as he recovers, Joshua develops a deeper understanding
of this collective-intelligence species and its society. He discovers
that some older trolls, with capacious memories, act as communal
libraries, and live on a very strange Long Earth world, in caverns under
the root systems of trees as tall as mountains.
Valienté also learns something much more profound . . . about life and
its purpose in the Long Earth: We cultivate the cosmos to maximize the
opportunities for life and joy in this universe, and to prepare for new
universes to come.
