{4.5\/5} “Like most of the scions of the Million, these ones were intensely focused, serious, and cautious around their elders. They should be — all of human civilization rest on their shoulders.”<\/p>\n
The Million<\/strong> by Karl Schroeder, published in 2018<\/p>\n There are a million people in the world. Bernie is a smart guy but a brain injury has made him unpredictable. Gavin, Bernie’s brother, isn’t supposed to exist — so he never sees anyone other than his family. When an air force arrives at their estate unannounced, Gavin knows they’ve come for him.<\/p>\n This is a novella that takes place in the same universe as Lockstep<\/strong>. Schroeder may write further in this universe — that would be welcome.<\/p>\n The publisher, Tor, is pulling a scam — making you pay the same for a 185 page book with wide margins as a normal 300 page book. Of course, that’s not Schroeder’s fault.<\/p>\n It’s about friendship, a big conspiracy, and getting to the bottom of things. It’s about the relationship between the people who live in the lockstep and the people who don’t (the Million).<\/p>\n As with all of Schroeder’s books, it’s got great ideas and characters.<\/p>\n