Book excerpt: Welcome to a dark future metropolis, where ancient wood is valued like gold and fresh air is sold as the ultimate fix. A future of tyrannical oligarchy, media overlords and mad gangs. After fleeing north from the war in South Sudan, Alek and her brother finally find refuge in one of the last forests. Their world changes as something crashes from the skies into the trees. An alien force bringing a positivity that threatens the oligarchy with a fertile hope.