Still Life

What would happen if we achieved true equilibrium: the utopia of human dreams? On a tropical world around Alpha Centauri, an advanced civilization in harmony with their natural world has met its material needs forever. Thanks in part to photosynthetic skin from ancient eugenics, all that is left is art and long life. On Eleione's world the cycles of life have been carefully balanced. There are three genders: male, female, and neutral. Art and craft are most prized. There is no religion, a highly refined barter system, and little law. Because of mandatory bioengineering thousands of seasons ago (The Coding), the Elan became basically immortal. Only accidents and severe abuse can cause Ending, or, as Eleione soon discovers, suicide. The Elan show humans evidence that stars are sentient and might be manipulating their own solar systems for life. In their collaboration entire new possibilities emerge. They find a tenuous connection in the hybrid concept Love/Beauty.