From the novel Artificial Wisdom
The Floating States
New Carthage
From Dome to Ocean
Anatomy of a Floating City
A vertical slice through New Carthage — from the geodesic dome two hundred metres above sea level to the server rooms deep beneath the waves.
The Double Harbour
The Cothon
“The sight of a protected double inner harbour inside the dome extinguished her response like a put-out candle. A glittering assortment of stupidly expensive mega-yachts were berthed in a rectangular harbour with raised walkways along two sides, connected to another harbour by a small opening.”
“Military,” Tully said, studying it too. “Those are small battleships around the inner island.”
“It was an odd sight, the modern juxtaposed with the ancient arched and spired stone battlements.”
The Heart of the Tension
Paradise or Prison?
“Fresh, sweet air. The scent of delicate flowers mixed with the freshness of a rainstorm.”
— Livia Chandra
- Perfect climate. Sweet air. Birdsong.
- Zero crime. Zero poverty.
- The most creative and productive members of society.
- A city where crime is algorithmically impossible.
“We should be putting the resources into turning around the current situation instead of creating safe bubbles from which the rich can watch the poor die.”
— Marcus Tully
- Home and haven to the elite of society.
- Extensive vetting to weed out subtier citizens.
- Commit even a minor infraction, your visa is taken away.
- Big enough — death penalty.
“Very little crime here. Commit even a minor infraction, your visa is taken away. Big enough — death penalty.”
— Commander October
The Federation
The Six Floating States
Six independent city-states on the open ocean. A modern Phoenicia — maritime, self-governing, bound by a consortium rather than a nation.
The Historical Parallels
Ancient Echoes
Ancient Carthage was part of Phoenicia, a maritime civilisation of independent city-states that dominated Mediterranean trade. The Floating States are its successor: independent city-states on the ocean, trading with each other, self-governing, bound by a consortium rather than a nation.
Keeling didn’t just build a city. He built a mythology.
The Cothon
The real Carthage had a famous double harbour: a rectangular commercial port connected to a circular military port with an island command centre. Keeling recreated it exactly. The architecture of power hasn't changed in three thousand years.
Aštart
The Phoenician goddess of fertility, war, and the sea. Her statue greets every arrival at the Aeroport. A protector deity for a city that needs protecting.
The Statue of Hannibal
A giant stone statue of the great general, sword raised, towering over Central Plaza. The man who marched elephants across the Alps and nearly conquered Rome. A city that considers itself unconquerable chose the most unconquerable man in history as its icon.
The Phoenician
New Carthage’s grand hotel, named for the civilisation that founded the original city. Elegant, soulless, and lavish — the venue of choice for receptions, conferences, and funerals.
Scipio Tower
The tallest building in New Carthage, named after Scipio Africanus — the Roman general who destroyed Carthage in 146 BC. Creative destruction. The end of one civilisation to birth another. Keeling didn't just build a city. He built a mythology. And perhaps a warning.
Creative Destruction
The tallest building in New Carthage is named after the man who destroyed the original Carthage. The end of one civilisation to birth another.
City-State Data
Key Facts
6 Floating States
A federation of independent city-states
~200,000
Citizens of New Carthage
Zero Crime
Algorithmically enforced
Self-Sustaining
Farms, desalination, fish pens
Mobile
The city moves to avoid storms
The Dome
Geodesic, opens for rain, seals for storms
Founded 2041
By Jasper Keeling
Neural Reality
Full immersive VR for all citizens
Transport Pods
Autonomous, voice-controlled, 6-person
Death Penalty
For major infractions. Zero tolerance.
Something happened here
Dr. Martha Chandra built Solomon. She gave him intelligence. She gave him power. She gave him a city to govern.
Then an investigative journalist named Marcus Tully arrived in New Carthage — and Martha Chandra was found dead.
What Tully uncovered beneath the dome would change the course of human history.