It’s all a bit anarchic, I suppose, but it’s also highly effective. Flexible, responsive, mobile, heuristic… — Stephen Baxter

Human consciousness was an artificial thing. Once humans had believed that gods animated their souls, fighting their battles in the guise of humans. Later they had evolved the idea of the self-aware, self-directed consciousness. Now Michael saw that it had all been no more than an idea, a model, an illusion behind which to hide.

He, the last man, need no longer cling to such outmoded comforts.

There was no cognition, he realized. There was only perception.

“That’s the trouble with living so damned long,” Michael said. “Soured relationships last for ever.”

But you are a scientist, Michael Poole; and the skill of a scientist is in asking the right question.