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# gleisner robots, individual software-based intelligences housed inside artificial anthropoid, or flesher-shaped, physical bodies ( from a design by a corporation named Gleisner ) who interact with the world in flesher-paced " real time ," a trait which they regard as important, as they consider the polis citizens too remote and solipsistic.

The gleisners live in space, mostly in the asteroid belt, and in various other places in the Solar System ; Egan implies that they long ago agreed to leave Earth to the fleshers to avoid conflict.

They eventually implement a program of interstellar exploration using a fleet of 63 ships, targeting the nearest 21 stars.