Genomancer
From Red Galaxy
Contents |
Genomancer Canon
Technology
- Whereas technology that works with inorganic materials has stagnated, having become complex as it can be without breaking down, biotech - which works with living materials, continues to advance
- [[Genetic engineering] , both germline or somatic, is prevalent despite the efforts of those who would rather it not be.
Mind and Consciousness
- AI has been achieved, but efforts to make one as smart as human or smarter have failed because efforts to increase storage capacity to the degree that would be necessary for such a thing have failed and by now ceased.
- The smartest AI is at the level of the average golden retreiver.
Environment
- Habitat destruction has reached an all time high, leaving only a few wild spots left in the world - as nature preserves.
Society
- Most of the world is divided into two classes: Those who both were able to afford genetic "upgrades" and accepted them (GenRich), thus out pacing the lower, descended who either couldn't afford them or didn't want them (Naturals). After the initial choice, the Western World - which had been piling up debt as it tried to prop up failing companies though government spending - finally went through what future generations would call "The Second Great Depression".When this happened, the choice to accept or not accept genetic upgrades was no longer there, as only the GenRich could afford them.
- GenRich are further divided into a number of subspecies; some the muscular descendents of professional athletes, others the brainy descendants of scientists, and others still the charismatic descendants of politicians. The common thread all of them share is that their genome has been specially modified to excel at a career or set of careers.
- Naturals look upon the GenRich and all that they have at their disposal with a mix of fear and awe. Most live in destitute poverty, and are reliant on the GenRich to avoid that poverty getting worse.
- Genetic Engineer (also called Genomancer)has become a valuable profession, albeit one that is not well understood by those who are not one. This is because they generally keep knowledge of how they do their work secret. After all, their GenRich clients don't care how they do their job as long as they do it well, and the Naturals are too poor to have access to their craft, and there are those who are hostile to "Genomancy" and kill its' practicioners.
- The most prominent ideological divide amongst the GenRich can be summed up as answers to one very important question: Now that humans can reshape nature human or otherwise into whatever we choose, what will we make it into, and who should benefit?
