The Ice Orphan

In the third book of the Rewilding Reports cli-fi series, a frozen future is explored where archaic species struggle to survive an apocalyptic ice age. A dying quantum computer named Quancee and her student, a Denisovan man named Lynx, are the only hope for the archaic hominins.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2024
Publisher: Astra Publishing House

In this captivating third book in the Rewilding Reports cli-fi series, nationally recognized anthropologist Dr. Sarah Weston delves into a frozen future where archaic species face the daunting challenge of survival amidst an apocalyptic ice age. It has been a staggering 925 summers since the Jemen introduced a bioluminescent algae, known as zyme, into the world's oceans, inadvertently setting off a catastrophic ice age that has engulfed the majority of the planet. While a handful of Jemen managed to escape to the stars, they left behind a remarkable legacy by recreating several extinct species that thrived during the last ice age. However, after nearly a thousand summers, the archaic hominins, who eke out a existence along the edges of massive glaciers, are dwindling in numbers. Their only hope for survival rests with a dying quantum computer named Quancee and her student, a Denisovan man named Lynx.

When Vice Admiral Jorgenson, the last Jemen, informs Lynx of his plans to dismantle Quancee and utilize her parts to create a new computer, Lynx is left stunned. However, as Lynx battles to safeguard Quancee, the quantum computer has its own set of priorities. Before Quancee succumbs to her fate, she must fulfill a crucial mission: saving a special boy who is unable to save himself.

Meanwhile, in the lodges of the Sealion People, a young boy on the brink of manhood, Jawbone, experiences strange voices, including the soothing melodies of an old woman who sings to him. As Jawbone embarks on his first quest to seek a spirit helper, fate brings him face-to-face with the same old woman, whose presence will forever alter his life.

The Ice Orphan is an insightful and thought-provoking story that explores the devastating consequences of climate change, while grounded in robust anthropological research. It takes readers on a captivating journey to a world that is both unfamiliar and strangely familiar, offering a poignant reflection on the resilience and adaptability of life in the face of adversity.

Dimension: 210 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780756418755