In the not-too-distant future, much of North America is too hot to survive. The richest people on Earth live in a climate-controlled arcology called Manna City. But surrounding it, the “perimeter” is a sprawl of hot slums, populated by people hoping to get in.
Some do. Rhmañña Reddy was adopted into the city as a child and had a chance to live the life of dreams, only now she’s missing. Her civ-com link is down, and her father hasn’t seen her for 24 hours.
Siam Atticus, a private investigator drafted into the Manna police force, has no family, no conflicts, and is brought on to the case. He doesn’t know it yet, but his background in tracking digital assets will be key. As will his skillful use of Epi-mind, an embedded AI in his system.
Meanwhile, far outside the city walls, past the sprawling perimeter, intrepid survivalists live a life of nomadic hunter-gatherers. A woman has shown up in their path, angry and dangerous.
She has no memory.
The hunter-gatherers take her with them as they travel north, farther from the city, hoping to find a better life. And as they follow the few animals left to hunt in the wasted land, something follows them.
“It’s like The Big Sleep met Neuromancer in a dirty basement.”
Published by Aethon Books on September 22, 2026
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