Cythera (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Richard Calder |
| Products | Science fiction novel |
Cythera is a science fiction work authored by British writer Richard Calder, released in 1998. While it was not overtly promoted as a direct sequel, the novel occupies the same fictional universe as Calder's "Dead Girls" trilogy, incorporating its setting and including characters such as Kito and Mosquito from Dead Girls. The chronological context implies that Cythera functions as a narrative precursor.
Calder's creative process was influenced by BBC World Service broadcasts he encountered during his stay in Thailand, which highlighted societal anxieties in England concerning juvenile delinquency and social disorder.
Plot summary
Taking place on a near-future Earth following the unsuccessful Third World Children's Crusade against Western powers, Cythera delves into the intensifying suppression of children’s freedoms. The story centers on filmmaker Flynn and his principal actress Jaruwan, who face incarceration due to their involvement in the provocative Dahlia Chan film series. As the Net evolves, conscious media entities known as 'ghosts' migrate between Earth 2 (fibrespace) and Earth 1, causing a convergence of realities. The plot traces the human Tarquin’s connection with Dahlia Chan, their mission to free Jaruwan, and their quest for the elusive ideal of liberty embodied by Cythera.
Reception
The magazine All Hallows, affiliated with the Ghost Story Society, characterized Cythera as a contemporary ghost tale. In this context, Earth 2—or fibrespace—symbolizes an advanced Internet realm where human consciousness can be digitized into 'ghosts.' Within this domain exists Dahlia Chan, while her tangible counterpart Jaruwan resides on Earth 1: