BERENICE: novel summary
“BERENICE – Sir Basil Cheltenham’s second life” by Johannes Themelis
The superpowers American Empire and Grand China are consolidated. Conflicts between the only two remaining states on earth therefore only happen if the heads of state, Ray Kravcuk and Dan May Zheng (who are connected to each other in a love affair), feel the need for a fake provocation, in order to discipline their respective subjects by frightening them with the danger emanating from the other side. However, such manoeuvres are checked out eventually, and so resistance begins to rise in both of the two realms. On the other hand the front against the parallel universe has apparently become calm – however this appearance deceives: Obviously, there are activities of the mirror world again, which are not yet directly aimed at our reality, though their consequences are difficult to measure. A group, which is amazingly well organized in view of the chaos there dominant since the fall of the Tyrant, at least strives for putting up the earlier despotism again, if not for renewed aggression.
How peacefully, in comparison, things develop at the space station VIÈVE. Its former commander, who originally seized power on the artificial celestial body as an agent of the parallel-world dictator, has transformed it into his own small, independent, and comfortable kingdom. Mango Berenga is his queen, and there are already two royal children named XX and XY. For the entertainment of the population the „King’s & Queen’s club“ has been founded, on whose stage clear-cut adult shows are run, but the establishment also becomes by the way a reloading point for relations and information of all kind. Following the queen’s desire, an academy is also set up, in which the interested public (admittedly by far smaller than that in the club) is furnished with theoretical lectures on the history of ideas as well as with presentations on the philosophical relevance of practical topics. Everything would be peaceful there, as said – if only those Echwejchs would not be present…
But fortunately Sir Basil Cheltenham, who is restored after his collapse owing to the therapeutic efforts of the Walemira Talmai, is on his way, accompanied by Clio and Chicago. As always, he is not the man to let a matter rest, but does what he thinks has to be done. But everything comes differently to the baronet’s plans. Again Berenice has to hurry supporting him with her spectacular extrasensory forces.