Book Description

A corroded biological weapon releases its deadly load into the atmosphere and wipes out the human population of the Network. If not for the leadership of Valda, a sophisticated and self-improved android, the other androids would cease to function. She rallies them to improve the Nubs that form the Network and she pushes the Livestock Specialists into cloning humans from the samples on hand. Despite having advanced technology and expertise, the androids need human wombs. Militia patrols extend their search areas. A surveillance aircraft is deployed. The first human found is a male loner, not what Valda wants but he has his uses. Women are found and brought out of their miserable existences into the pampered luxury of the Nubs. They are convinced, either by acceptance of what they were told or by hypnosis, to be party to the cloning experiment. Valda’s ambition is to repopulate the Nubs with people worthy of the heritage of the Few. The newly acquired women are given an education and coached to serve as the future mothers and teachers of the new generation of the Few. Driven by the desire to learn and improve herself, Valda continues to ring in changes. Even the plans of meticulous androids can fail. Valda has to cope with disgruntled women as well as her experiments...