the golden age is a science fiction trilogy by the american writer john c. wright. it consists of three books, the golden age, the phoenix exultant and the golden transcendence. ==plot introduction== the author's first novel, it revolves around the protagonist phaethon (full name phaethon prime rhadamanth humodified (augment) uncomposed, indepconsciousness, base neuroformed, silver-gray manorial schola, era 7043). the novel concerns phaethon's discovery that parts of his past have been edited out of his mindâapparently by himself. ==books==  ===book 1: the golden age=== the novel is set ten thousand years in the future in a voluntary anarchistic society spanning the solar system called the golden oecumene. technology makes nearly everyone immortal and tremendously wealthy, except those exiled from society or living outside by choice. the main character, phaethon, is a member of a group, called the manorials, for whom telepresence has completely replaced the phone and video-phone, as the manorials travel and communicate as virtual projections on the physical world. the manorial Ã©lites rarely go anywhere in person and live almost always connected to the mentality, their version of the internet. the sophotechs, a superior line of computer intelligences, do most of the work, research, and simulations required by the society. there is only one remaining court, the curia, and they rarely hear cases since everything can be solved externally by superior sophotech intelligence and simulation. the entire military is made up of one man, atkins, and he is awakened only when needed. the most powerful groups are the hortators and the peers. the hortators serve to convince people to act in a way beneficial to society. the peers are the most wealthy and powerful. phaethon becomes convinced that there is an enemy presence originating from an ancient failed colonization-attempt on another star, and becomes constantly dogged by clandestine enemies. the peaceful utopian society does not believe in phaethon's hostile experiences and discoveries, because of the enemy's superior subterfuge and technology. phaethon must face his memories, the reasons for their loss, and his original dream of space exploration, risk, and enterprise in the face of a powerful, mysterious enemy and his utopian society th
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