Nostalgia is Heartless (Heartless Series, Book 2) by Sarah Lahey

 

Release date: October 26, 2021

Subgenre: Science fiction romance, Post-apocalyptic fiction

 

About Nostalgia is Heartless:

 

Earth, 2050. Pregnant, unemployed, and living back home with her father, climate scientist Quinn Buyers wonders how she got to this point in her life. Her famous scientist mother is mysteriously missing, the planet is at risk from a massive solar storm, the Transhumans want to take a colony to Titan, and her assisted living companion, a robotic meerkat, is showing clear signs of anxiety and depression. But her biggest challenge is her partner. How can she reconcile her long-distance relationship with this reserved, enigmatic cyborg?

The sequel to Sarah Lahey’s debut novel and the second book in the Heartless Series, Nostalgia is Heartless delves into the world of near future, exploring a society on the brink of climate catastrophe. This time, Quinn’s adventures take her across the globe to Antarctica . . . where it rains all day, every day. Readers will delight in following Quinn’s journey as she races to save her family, her planet, and—hopefully—her love life.

Excerpt:

 

Cleo prances towards one of the high tables at the side of the room and Quinn, still holding the bot’s hand,  follows.

“Write down your fears, or any questions you might have about the journey,” Cleo instructs. “We’ll read them aloud soon, addressing each question in turn. Take a few minutes. We have modules, or you can use paper if you prefer. You can take more than one piece.” 

“You mean the journey to . . . Titan?” Quinn asks. 

“Yes. Titan.” The bot smiles.

Quinn warms to the idea. She takes two slips of paper, sits at the high table, and writes, It’s really cold—minus 200 below Celsius. How are we going to keep warm? She folds the note and places it in the slot at the back of the table. 

On her second slip of paper, she writes, A day on Titan lasts 15 days and 22 hours. That’s a long day. What are we going to do to fill the time? Then she folds the page and pops it into the slot. 

A young girl steps up beside Quinn and scribbles on her slip of paper. Quinn peers sideways, attempting to catch a glimpse—she is fascinated by these people. She understands their desire for adventure and space travel, but Titan is a serious journey—the flight will take several months—and the only habitat there is an abandoned community set up in the 2040s. What are they going to do once they get there?

The girl smiles and shows Quinn her question. It reads, Shadows are darker on Mars than on Earth. I’m worried about my shadow.

“You don’t have to worry about your shadow,” Quinn whispers. “You’re not going to Mars. You’re going to Titan.” 

A dark-haired, middle-aged man steps up to the table. He slips several pieces of paper into the slot, then turns to Quinn. “You know what I’m looking forward to the most?” 

The cold. The darkness. The days that last 360 hours. 

“A job. I just want a job. Terraforming a planet is going to take a lot of work. I reckon there’ll be a lot to do when we get there.”

Quinn gives him a melancholy smile.

“And the rain,” the man continues. “The rain falls more slowly on Titan, six times slower. So, we get to enjoy it for longer. I’m looking forward to the water sports.” 

“Actually, it’s not water, it’s methane and ethane,” Quinn says. “I don’t think—”

“Attention, everyone,” Cleo addresses the room. “Don’t worry if you haven’t finished, there’s no rush. We’re just going to read out a few questions to get us in the mood.” A screen rolls down from the ceiling and a message is illuminated. “The first question: ‘Are you offering nutrigenetics services or the CCK hormone to suppress appetite?’” Cleo pauses. “No, we are not offering that. You should definitely bring your own."

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About Sarah Lahey:

Sarah Lahey is a designer, educator, and writer. She holds bachelor’s degrees in interior design, communication, and visual culture, and works as a senior lecturer teaching classes on design, technology, sustainability and creative thinking. She has three children and lives on the Northern Beaches in Sydney, Australia.

 

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