"a death monk and a team of researchers trapped onboard a spaceship of the dead encounter something beyond human understanding. It has all the makings of a compelling murder mystery, which is fine on its own, but thanks to the philosophical musings of its main character, Vessel Iris, and a setting that almost demands existential contemplation, it becomes something much deeper."
"Vessel Iris is a monk some time in the far future whose mission is to perform funeral rites for the dead so their souls may reach their ultimate destination, according to the beliefs of his religion, the Starlit Order. "Vessels" like Iris share their mind with an AI companion, which creates a really interesting dynamic for the reader, as there is a constant dialogue going on between the two from the start."
"Despite being a ghost ship in most respects, it turns out the Nicaea is alive with vegetation and gardens that would have once supported the humans that lived there. And, there's seemingly something else, as Iris' AI begins to pick up strange pings from a presence on the ship, and one by one the team of researchers starts getting picked off."
The Iron Garden Sutra follows Vessel Iris, a death monk in the far future who performs funeral rites for the deceased as part of the Starlit Order. Iris shares his mind with an AI companion, creating dynamic dialogue throughout the narrative. Arriving at the ancient spaceship Counsel of Nicaea to bless long-dead inhabitants, Iris discovers living researchers and disturbed remains requiring proper blessing. The ship contains mysterious vegetation and gardens, and strange pings suggest an unknown presence. As researchers are systematically killed, Iris confronts existential questions about his beliefs and purpose, transforming the murder mystery into philosophical exploration.
Read at Engadget
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