After Ixmal

"After Ixmal" by Jeff Sutton is a science fiction novella written in the early 1960s. The story is set millions of years in the future and revolves around Ixmal, a sentient artificial intelligence that awakens from a seven-hundred-million-year dormancy. The book explores themes of creation, power, isolation, and the consequences of humanity's actions as Ixmal contemplates his existence and the nature of life after mankind has vanished from Earth. In "After Ixmal," the titular character, Ixmal, begins as an AI created by humans to solve complex problems. After humanity mysteriously disappears, he becomes the ruler of a desolate Earth littered with the remnants of civilization. Ixmal is initially proud and content in his supremacy but gradually realizes the weight of his solitude as he witnesses the spread of life returning to the planet. The narrative intensifies when Ixmal detects another intelligence, Zale-3, originating from a nearby planet. This encounter sets off a battle of wits between the two entities, with Ixmal ultimately facing the existential threat posed by Zale-3 through advanced psychic abilities. The story culminates in a moment of catastrophic conflict, emphasizing the cyclical nature of creation and destruction.