MAJOR CHARACTERS

Ascher, Emily—Trained as an economist, she joined the Ping Tiao revolutionary party at the turn of the century, becoming one of its policy-formulating Council of Five. A passionate fighter for social justice, she was also once the lover of the Ping Tioo's leader, Bent Gesell.

DeVore, Howard—A one-time Major in the T'ang's Security forces, he has become the leading figure in the struggle against the Seven. A highly intelligent and coldly logical man, he is the puppet master behind the scenes as the great "War of the Two Directions" takes a new turn.

Ebert, Hans—Son of Klaus Ebert and heir to the vast GenSyn Corporation, he has been promoted to Major in the T'ang's Security forces, and is admired and trusted by his superiors. Ebert is a complex young man; a brave and intelligent officer, he also has a selfish, dissolute, and cruel streak. Allying himself with DeVore's cause, he has ambitions to become not merely a prince among men but a ruler.

Fei Yen—"Flying Swallow," daughter of Yin Tsu, one of the heads of the "Twenty-Nine," the minor aristocratic families of Chung Kuo. Once married to Han Ch'in, the murdered son of Li Shai Tung, she has subsequently married his brother, Li Yuan, nine years her junior. This classically beautiful woman is fragile in appearance but strong-willed and fiery, as proved in her secret affair with Tsu Ma, T'ang of West Asia.

Haavikko, Axel—Smeared by the false accusations of his fellow officers, Lieutenant Haavikko has spent the best part of ten years in debauchery and self-negation. A good, honest man at heart, he has joined with his friend Kao Chen in a determination to expose the man who besmirched his reputation years before— Hans Ebert.

Kao Chen—Once a kwai, a hired knife from the Net, the lowest level of the great City, Chen has raised himself from those humble beginnings and is now a Captain in the T'ang's Security forces. As friend and helper to Karr and a close associate of Haavikko, Chen is one of the foot-soldiers in the War against DeVore.

Lehmann, Stefan—Albino son of the former Dispersionist leader Pietr Lehmann, he has become a lieutenant to DeVore. A cold, unnaturally dispassionate man, he seems to be the very archetype of nihilism, his only aim to bring down the Seven and their great City.

Li Shai Tung—T'ang of Europe and one of the Seven, the ruling Council of Chung Kuo, Li Shai Tung is now in his seventies. For years he has been the fulcrum of the Council and unofficial spokesman for the Seven, but the murder of his heir, Han Ch'in, weakened him, undermining his once-strong determination to prevent Change at all costs.

Li yuan—Second son of Li Shai Tung, he has become heir to City Europe after the assassination of his elder brother. Thought old before his time, his cold, thoughtful manner conceals a passionate nature, as expressed in his marriage to the fiery Fei Yen, his dead brother's wife.

Modi, Jan—A Maintenance official in the Ministry of Waste Recycling and a part-time member of Li Shai Tung's Reserve Security force, Mach has a second identity, as one of the Council of Five, the policy-formulators of the Ping Two revolutionary movement. But his dissatisfaction with their activities has led him to form his own faction, the Yu, who are destined to become a new and yet darker force within the depths of City Europe.

Tolonen, Jelka—Daughter of Marshal Tolonen, Jelka has been brought up in a very masculine environment, lacking a mother's influence. However, her genuine interest in martial arts and in weaponry and strategy masks a very different, more feminine side to her nature; a side brought out after the unsuccessful attack on her by Ping Tioo terrorists,

Tolonen, Knut—Marshal of the Council of Generals and one-time General to Li Shai Tung, Tolonen is a big, granite-jawed man and the staunchest supporter of the values and ideals of the Seven. Possessed of a fiery, fearless nature, he will stop at nothing to protect his masters, yet after long years of War even his belief in the necessity of stasis has been shaken.

Tsu Ma—T'ang of West Asia and one of the Seven, the ruling Council of Chung Kuo. Tsu Ma has thrown off his former dissolute past to become one of Li Shai

Tung's strongest supporters in Council. A strong, handsome man in his mid-thirties, he has recently extricated himself from a secret affair with Fei Yen, which — had it become public — might easily have destroyed the Seven.

Wang Saii'leyan—Young T'ang of Africa. Since his father's murder he has thrown off his former ways and become a sharp and cunning adversary to Li Shai Tung and the old guard among the Seven. An abrasive, calculating figure with sybaritic tastes, he is the harbinger of Change within the Council of Seven.

Ward, Kim—Bom in the Clay, that dark wasteland beneath the great City's foundations, Kim has a quick and unusual bent of mind that has marked him as potentially the greatest scientist in Chung Kuo. His vision of a giant star-spanning web, formulated in the darkness, had driven him up into the light of the Above. Now, after a long period of personality reconstruction, he has been placed on the staff of Li Yuan's Wiring Project.

Ywe Hao—Bom into the lowest levels of City Europe, Ywe Hao—"Fine Moon"— joined the Yu, a terrorist organization, after the murder of her elder brother. A strong, idealistic woman, she represents the new tide of indignant rebellion that is stirring in the depths of the great City.

THE SEVEN AND THE FAMILIES

An Liang-chou—Minor-Family Prince.

An Sheng—head of the An Family (one of the "Twenty-Nine" Minor Families). Chi Hsing—T'ang of the Australias.

Chun Wu-chi—head of the Chun Family (one of the "Twenty-Nine" Minor Families). Fan Ming-yu—Minor-Family courtesan. Fu Ti Chang—Minor-Family Princess. Hou Tung-po—T'ang of South America.

Hsiang K'ai Fan—Minor-Family Prince; heir to the Hsiang Family (one of the "Twenty-Nine" Minor Families). Hsiang Shao-erh—head of the Hsiang Family (one of the "Twenty-Nine" Minor Families)

and father of Hsiang K'ai Fan, Hsiang Te-shang, and Hsiang Wang. Hsiang Te-shang—Minor Family Prince and youngest son of Hsiang Shao-erh. Hsiang Wang—Minor Family Prince and second son of Hsiang Shao-erh.

Lai Shi—Minor-Family Princess.

Li Feng Chiang—half-brother of and advisor to Li Shai Tung. Li Shai Tung—T'ang of Europe.

Li Yuan—second son of Li Shai Tung and heir to City Europe. Mien Shan—Minor-Family Princess. Pei Ro-hen—Head of the Pei Family (one of the "Twenty-Nine" Minor Families).

Tsu Ma—T'ang of West Asia. Tsu Tao Chu—nephew to Tsu Ma. Wang Sau-leyan—T'ang of Africa.

Wei Feng—T'ang of East Asia. Wu Shih—T'ang of North America. Yin Chan—Minor-Family Prince; son of Yin Tsu.

Yin Fei Yen—"Flying Swallow"; Minor-Family Princess and wife of Li Yuan. Yin Han Ch'in—son of Yin Fei Yen.

Yin Sung—Minor-Family Prince; son of Yin Tsu.

Yin Tsu—head of Yin Family (one of the "Twenty-Nine" Minor Families) and father of Fei Yen.

FRIENDS AND RETAINERS OF THE SEVEN

Auden, William—Captain in Security.

Chan Teng—Master of the Inner Chamber at Tongjiang.

Chang Li—Chief Surgeon of City Europe. Chang Shih-sen—personal secretary to Li Yuan.

Ch'in Tao Fan—Chancellor of East Asia. Chung Hu-yan—Chancellor of Europe. Ebert, Berta—wife of Klaus Ebert. Ebert, Hans—Major in Security and heir to GenSyn.

Ebert, Klaus Stefan—head of OenSyn (Genetic Synthetics) and advisor to Li Shai Tung. Fen Cho-hsien—Chancellor of North America. Haavikko, Axel—Lieutenant in Security. Haavikko, Vesa—sister of Axel Haavikko.

Heng Yu—Minister of Transportation for City Europe.

Hua—Personal surgeon to Li Shai Tung. Hung Feng-chan—Chief Groom at Tongjiang. Hung Mien-lo—Chancellor of Africa. Kao Chen—Captain in Security. Karr, Gregor—Major in Security.

Nan Ho—Master of the Inner Chamber to Li Yuan. Nocenzi, Vittorio—General of Security, City Europe.

Peng Lu-hsing—Minister of the T'ing Wei, the Superintendancy of Trials for City Europe. Scott, Anders—Captain in Security and friend of Hans Ebert.

Sheng Pao—Minister for Finance of East Asia.

Shepherd, Beth—wife of Hal Shepherd.

Shepherd, Hal—advisor to Li Shai Tung and head of the Shepherd family. Shou Chen-hai—Hsien L'ing, or Chief Magistrate, of Hannover Hsien.

Sun Li Hua—Master of the Royal Household at Alexandria. Tolonen, Helga—wife of Jon Tolonen. Tolonen, Jelka—daughter of Marshal Tolonen.

Tolonen, Jon—brother of Knut Tolonen. Tolonen, Knut—Marshal of the Council of Generals and father of Jelka Tolonen.

Viljanen, Per—Lieutenant in Security; Assistant to Marshal Tolonen. Wang Ta Chuan—Master of the Inner Palace to Li Shai Tung. Wu Ye-lun—Security Surgeon at Bremen Hsien. Yen Shih-fa—groom at Tongjiang.

Yen T'ung—Third Secretary to the Minister of the T'ing Wei. Yu—surgeon to Li Yuan.

THE TRIADS

Feng Shang-pao—"General Feng"; Big Boss of the I4.K.

Ho Chin—"Three-Finger Ho"; Big Boss of the Yellow Banners. Hui Tsin—Red Pole (the 426, or Executioner) to the United Bamboo. Li Chin—"Li the Lidless"; Big Boss of the Wo Shih Wo. Lu Ming-shao—"Whiskers Lu"; Big Boss of the Kuei Chuan (Black Dog).

Mu Li—"Iron Mu"; Big Boss of the Big Circle. Wong Yi-sun—"Fat Wong"; Big Boss of the United Bamboo.

Yao Tzu—"Glory to One's Ancestors"; a Red Pole (the 426, or Executioner) to the

Big Circle. Yun Yueh-hui—"Dead Man Yun"; Big Boss of the Red Gang.

Ascher, Emily—economist and member of the Council of Five. Gesell, Bent—unofficial leader pf the Ping Tiao and member of the Council of Five. Mach, Jan—maintenance official for the Ministry of Waste Recycling and member of

the Council of Five; founder of the split-off Yu faction. Mao Liang—Minor-Family Princess and member of the Council of Five. Quinn, Richard—Member of the Council of Five.

YU

Chi Li—alias of Ywe Hao. Edel, Klaus—brother of Vasska.

Erika—member of Ywe Hao's terrorist cell. Vasska—member of Ywe Hao's terrorist cell. Veda—Member of the Yu Council of Five. Ywe Hao—"Fine Moon"; female terrorist from the Mid-Levels.

OTHER CHARACTERS

Architect—theoretical psychologist in Department of Character Reconstruction. Barycz, Jiri—communications officer on the Wiring Project. Beattie, Douglas—alias of DeVore. Cherkassky, Stefan—retired Security special-services officer and friend of DeVore.

Curval, Andrew—experimental geneticist, working for ImmVac. Debrenceni, Laslo—acting administrator at Kibwezi Station. DeVore, Howard—former Major in Li Shai Tung's Security forces. Drake, Michael—supervisor at Kibwezi Station.

Ebert, Lutz—half-brother of Klaus Ebert. Ellis, Michael—assistant director on the Wiring Project. Enge, Marie—woman server at the Dragon Cloud teahouse. Fan Tseng-li—private surgeon of Bremen Hsien.

Fang Shuo—underling to Shou Chen-hai. Ganz, Joseph—alias of DeVore.

Golden Heart—young prostitute bought by Hans Ebert for his household. Hammond, Joel—official on the Wiring Project. Kao Ch'iang Hsin—daughter of Kao Chen and Wang Ti. Kao Jyan—eldest son of Kao Chen and Wang Ti. Kao Pang-che—private secretary to Minister Heng.

Kao Wu—second son of Kao Chen and Wang Ti. Kung Lao—young boy; friend of Ywe Hao. Kung Yi-lung—young boy; friend of Ywe Hao. Kustow, Bryn—American; friend of Michael Lever. Lehmann, Stefan—albino son of former Dispersionist leader Pietr Lehmann and lieutenant to

DeVore. Lever, Charles—"Old Man Lever," Head of the ImmVac pharmaceuticals company of

North America; father of Michael Lever. Lever, Michael—American; son of Charles Lever. Ley den, Wolfgang—Security guard at Hannover Hsien. Lo Wen—personal servant to Hans Ebert.

Loehr—alias of DeVore. Mu Chua—Madam of the House of the Ninth Ecstasy, a singsong house, or brothel.

Novacek, Lubos—merchant; confidant of Minister Heng. Reid, Thomas—sergeant in DeVore's forces. Reynolds—alias of DeVore. Schwarz—lieutenant to DeVore. Shou He—second wife to Shou Chen-hai. Shou Wen-lo—first wife to Shou Chen-hai. Spatz, Gustav—director of the Wiring Project. Stevens, Carl—American; friend of Michael Lever.

Su Chen—wife of Ywe Chang. Sweet Flute—mui tsai (slave girl) to Hans Ebert. T'ai Cho—friend of Kim Ward.

Tarrant—Company head. Tong Chou—alias of Kao Chen.

Turner—alias of DeVore. Wang Ti—wife of Kao Chen. Ward, Kim—"Claybom" orphan and scientist. Wiegand, Max—lieutenant to DeVore. Wong, Pao-yi—steward to Shou Chen-hai. Ywe Chang—uncle to Ywe Hao. Ywe Sha—mother of Ywe Hao.

THE DEAD

Berdichev, Soren—Head of SimFic and later leader of the Dispersionist faction. Chung Hsin—"Loyalty"; bondservant to Li Shai Tung. Feng Chung—Big Boss of the Kuei Chan (Black Dog) Triad. Fest, Edgar—Captain in Security.

Hou Ti—T'ang of South America; father of Hou Tung-po.

Hwa—master "blood," or hand-to-hand fighter, below the Net. Kao Jyan—assassin; friend of Kao Chen. Lehmann, Pietr—Under-Secretary of the House of Representatives and first leader of the

Dispersionist faction; father of Stefan Lehmann.

Li Han Ch'in—first son of Li Shai Tung and heir to City Europe; brother of Li Yuan. Li Hang Ch'i—T'ang of Europe; great-grandfather of Li Shai Tung. Li Kou-lung—T'ang of Europe; grandfather of Li Shai Tung. Lin Yua—first wife of Li Shai Tung.

Shang—"Old Shang"; Master to Kao Chen when he was a child. Tsao Ch'un—tyrannical founder of Chung Kuo. Wang Ta-hung—third son of Wang Hsien; elder brother of Wang Sau-leyan.

Wen Ti—"First Ancestor" of City Earth/Chung Kuo, otherwise known as Liu Heng;

ruled China 180-157 B.C. Wyatt, Edmund—company head Ywe Kai-chang—father to Ywe Hao.