Stuck In The Same Place I’ve Always Been
Knight Moves
By Walter Jon Williams
Walter Jon Williams’ 1985 Knight Moves is a stand-alone1 science fiction novel.
Eight centuries ago, Doran Falkner saved the world. Falkner Power Systems provided abundant power, which (as science advanced) could be used to build nuclear dampers and relativistic star drives. Thus, the energy crisis, the threat of nuclear war, and access to the rest of the universe, all solved all thanks to one man.
Prudent investment allowed Falkner to deliver another miracle to the world: vastly extended life. This came with a steep price-tag: any would-be immortal would have to surrender their terrestrial real estate to Doran Falkner and move to another star system.
Today, Doran is the proud owner of most of the Earth and very large, very dirty secret.