Climatic - A Climate and Genetic Engineering Science Fiction Novel

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, languishing, and living in the family's rented duplex the last five years, the burdens are multiplying. Her mom's medical condition is deteriorating, and her younger brother Jack is tripping down the father's path of irresponsibility.

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 native skepticism is on high alert. Nothing could be that easy. She wonders if Tyren's generosity is from the heart, or if he's expecting 'recompense' that she's unable to provide given her difficult past and restrictive reproductive laws.

As she expects, 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 chastises 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 from 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?

PREDICTABLE PATHS episodes, in sequential order:

#1. AGENESS - A Longevity / Age Engineering Science Fiction Play on Our Imminent Ageless Dystopia ; Six Acts, Episodes -22 to -17

#2. CLIMATIC - A Climate and Genetic Engineering Science Fiction Novel; Episodes -16 to -2

#3. AMYGDALA HIJACK - A Genetic Engineering Sci-Fi Novel of Impending Dystopia (a Trilogy) 

  3.1 - Amygdala Hijack - The Waening, Part 1 of 3; Episodes 1 - 9

  3.2 - Amygdala Hijack - The Warning, Part 2 of 3; Episodes 10 - 18

  3.3 - Amygdala Hijack - The Wasting, Part 3 of 3; Episodes 19 - 28

#4. THREE GUYS IN A POST-APOCALYPTIC BAR - A Longevity / Age Engineering and Genetic Engineering Sci-Fi Novella ; Episodes 47 - 54

#5. INFINITY CURVE - Lamentations to Unseen Friends Across the Vastness of Space ; Episodes 56 - 78

#6. PATH TO ENTROPY - An Apocalyptic Climax ; Episodes 79 - 93

#7. SORD IN PROSPERITY - Hope Beyond the Apocalypse ; Episodes 118 - 159

#8. DAISY THE DUMPSTER DOG - A Sordid Tale of Dystopian Hubris and Convenient Canine Rationalizations (But Not a Supreme Court Satire or Parody) ; Episodes 311 - 337