In the restless heart of Austin, Texas, where suffocating heat darkly complements the stifling societal pressures of 2034, Rose Rulapaugh-besieged by life's harsh realities-struggles to find her place.
Shattered dreams line her path: a high school pregnancy ending in tragedy and a promising education never pursued. Jobless and languishing in the family's rented duplex the last five years, Rose's burdens are multiplying. Her mom's medical condition is deteriorating, and younger brother Jack is tripping down their father's path of irresponsibility.
When a hurricane sets off local tornados, destroying the duplex and swamping Austin with millions of coastal immigrants, Rose is forced to quickly find shelter for her and her dog. By a stroke of luck, she encounters Tyren, a genetic engineering postdoc student working a secret project. Tyren provides lodging in his converted garage while promising to help Rose achieve her dream of genetically resurrecting an*ancient Shasta Ground Sloth.*
Rose's well-honed skepticism is on high alert: Nothing could be this easy. She wonders if Tyren's generosity is from the heart, or if he expects 'recompense' that she's unable to provide given her difficult past and the state's restrictive reproductive laws.
As she fears, every silver lining has its clouds. Dr. Amy Lee, Tyren's boss, offers her a no-questions-asked job at a genetics company. She then thrashes Rose for exposing critical projects and potentially releasing virulent pathogens. And, despite Rose's best efforts to avoid it, she and Tyren might be getting closer. Too close.
Can Rose find meaning and purpose as she navigates her existential future in a city bursting at the seams due to global warming? Will she be forced to choose between succumbing to life's relentless grind or embarking on a transformative quest for personal identity, agency, and even redemption?
