It’s always nice to read science fiction with believable science. Getting through a whole book without wincing while you try to contort your brain around a ridiculous scientific assertion is refreshing. So, when I learned that Colorado author Raima Larter has a multi-decades-long background in chemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, statistical mechanics and something called “biophysical settings,” I was eager to read her first sci-fi novel, The Kiss Catastrophe. Larter worked as a scientist for universities and the US government before shifting to writing full time. She has quite a few novels under her belt and published this sci-fi offering in 2024.
More catastrophes than kissing
I admit I was expecting a full-blown sci-fi romance based on the title. And yes, she does develop a relationship in the book between her main character, Sydney Barcroft, a chemist at a big mega-corp lab and Jake, a more spiritual character who has stumbled upon a portal to another world. The love story isn’t the main story, though. Their Earth (of 2071) is in the midst of severe climate upheaval. And it’s not just Earth they have to worry about. Jake’s portal joins Earth to Cascadia, another planet which is encountering a climate crisis of its own.
As with any good book, the problems they face don’t stop there. Job issues, family dynamics, all the usual suspects (and some very unusual ones) pile on as the story develops.
Meanwhile, on Cascadia…
There are even bigger problems on Cascadia, the planet on the other side of the portal. Cascadia’s main protagonist character is Ruddy, a poet who lives on the Wet Side, roughly half of the planet that is constantly shrouded in rain. It’s a stark contrast to the Bright Side, which seems to have all the sunshine and unethical planetary rulers. Ruddy is contacted by a rebel group called the In-Betweeners, who believe that he can somehow save Cascadia and heal the rift that has formed between the castes of people there. Who doesn’t love a world where the poet gets to be the hero? Did I mention Ruddy works for the Ministry of Poetry? The characters on Cascadia are relatable and engaging. The relationships between them are skillfully drawn and compelling, sometimes gut-wrenching.
However, the characters on Cascadia don’t all stay on Cascadia. They’ve found the portal, too. As the plot thickens, Cascadians get stranded on Earth and Terrans wind up stuck on Cascadia. Together, they try to sort out the mysteries and course-correct their civilizations to avoid climate collapse.
The Science is Delicious
I love reading smart books. Larter’s science background informed every element of The Kiss Catastrophe. It is all explained. It’s all justified. The environments, the weather, the portals, the evolution. All of it has been well thought out. None of this is fantasy. It’s science fiction with the science front and center. I love to Google things while I read, and when she mentioned a scientist or a theory Syd had studied, I looked it up and—yep, it was real. Like reading a Connie Willis book, it’s been so well researched that eventually you don’t Google any more. You know even if it sounds made up, it’s based in fact. The author knows her stuff.
Larter has more than just an impressive bank of scientific knowledge, though. She has a vivid, artful imagination. She’s followed the scientific implications through to some conclusions that are stunning in their originality. Juicy with details, heart-wrenching with connections and consequences.
And yes, she eventually explains the title. It’s science. A perfect title, connecting her stories and characters, much like the portal connects Earth and Cascadia. So good.
Highly Recommend. Two Thumbs Up!
If you like science in your science fiction, this one’s for you. If you are a fan of cli-fi, this book offers realistic extrapolation and some hopeful solutions. If you appreciate books written by women scientists, about women scientists, then Larter’s Syd is a heroine you will love. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Dana Cain, a lifelong science fiction fan, has written hundreds of published articles, along with several poems and songs, and nearly a dozen non-fiction books. Her decades-long journalism career focused on entertainment, art, film and music. Cain’s collectibles books have explored UFOs & Aliens, Film & TV Monsters, Dinosaurs, Japanese Movie Monsters and more.
Cain’s most notable science fiction work is The Android’s New Soul, a post-apocalyptic romcom rock musical, released as a double album in 2018 and staged last September at Denver’s popular Bug Theater. To her delight, the show drew large crowds, gushing reviews, and several awards. Cain is now focused on her next sci-fi romcom project, set in space and wrapped around an alien abduction parody. Originally designed for TV, she is converting it into a book series.
When she’s not reading, watching or writing sci-fi, Cain owns and operates a number of large festivals in Colorado, including The Unicorn Festival, Cat Fest Colorado, The Denver Dog Fair and four chocolate festivals. She has won 16 Westword Best of Denver awards.