Three Grams of Elsewhere

Fifty years ago, a new civil war fractured the United States into a mosaic of polarized nations. Ever since, Harmony "Bibi" Cain has isolated himself: from society, from technology, from family. A powerful empath weary from the constant intrusion of others' emotions, he's finally cloistered in his rural Wisconsin retirement community. He hopes to find, if not peace, then at least a little quiet. But when four impossible-seeming killings shake North America, Bibi is drawn into an investigation he wants nothing to do with. The victims were killed by motes —unstoppable drones only an empath can control—and decades ago, Bibi was an unwitting subject in the wartime program that created them: the program that weaponized empathy. With his few remaining friends at risk, and tensions between countries of the former United States reawakening, everything may depend on Bibi's lifelong struggle with his own extraordinary ability. "Giesler has created a world so full that it seems to echo beyond its pages—a story written so well that, no matter how perfect, surprising, and complete the ending, readers will want to return in search of even more. It's just that good." —BlueInk Review (Starred Review) "Giesler pens all this with sharp prose, arresting detail, an ear for memorable dialogue, a fascinating political situation, and a deep interest in empathy itself...Provocative, empathetic dystopian SF with a sense of narrative playfulness." —BookLife Fifty years ago, a new civil war fractured the United States into a mosaic of polarized nations. Ever since, Harmony Bibi Cain has isolated himself: from society, from technology, from family. A powerful empath weary from the constant intrusion of others emotions, hes finally cloistered in his rural Wisconsin retirement community. He hopes to find, if not peace, then at least a little quiet. But when four impossible-seeming killings shake North America, Bibi is drawn into an investigation he wants nothing to do with. The victims were killed by motes unstoppable drones only an empath can controland decades ago, Bibi was an unwitting subject in the wartime program that created them: the program that weaponized empathy. With his few remaining friends at risk, and tensions between countries of the former United States reawakening, everything may depend on Bibi's lifelong struggle with his own extraordinary ability. [A] stunningly well-crafted science fiction novelGiesler pushes readers to think deeply about how we connect to each other The BookLife Prize from Publisher's Weekly (10 out of 10)