Truly original and truly steeped in speculative science.

Here, this is a future where small pockets of worlds exist, each with their own ecosystem and time dilation (either super slow or super fast compared to current reality).  They represent every hope and opportunity to make life on earth better, learning about old civilizations, discovering new flora and fauna, and in turn, seizing a chance on renewable resources.  

Following scientist Raquel, who is part of the venerated Institute that spearheads exploring these wondrous worlds, she makes one small mistake, setting off a chain reaction where every good intention goes horribly wrong.

In this alternate reality, Peynado unfurls a grim outlook on corporate greed and voracious negligent consumerism that is an endless cycle of depletion and enslavement to the big machine that keeps things turning.  As Raquel tries to right her wrongs in a world that is hostile and hopeless, how Peynado brings forth Raquel’s enlightenment and ultimately, how she tries to resolve her issues was actually quite ingenious. 

Overall, this story wasn’t an easy or happy read. It is seriously mired with tech, AI, scientific advancements, and unfathomable repercussions of all these small alternate realities that are readily accessible and exploitable.  However, Peynado surprised me through Raquel’s grief and guilt as she offers her protagonist a miniscule chance of healing redemption through her drive for an unobtainable utopia, forcing her to make a grand sacrifice.

Again, this is far from a tidy HEA, but it made me think hard, and I only hope that Raquel’s offering was enough to keep a part of the universe whole and untainted.