The Assassin

By D.A. Baden

Eight people in a citizen's jury, discussing the most important challenge in the history of humanity – how to save ourselves from the looming climate crisis. Exciting new solutions are proposed, each with their own champions and detractors. What they decide will affect us all. But they each have their own issues to deal with, and what is more, one of them has a hidden agenda. Who is the assassin and who are they there to kill?

'Dark, funny and eye-opening' David Fell, prize-winning author and recovering economist.

'Inspirational and entertaining.' Dr Matt Winning, comedian and author of Hot Mess.

'Witty and entertaining, dealing with the most important crisis of today, climate change.' Sally Lewis, author/playwright).

'Love it! The combination of dark comedy and menace is a winner' Rachel Trezise, Prize-winning Author.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Habitat Press
• Release date: Jan 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9781739980344

Book preview

The Assassin

D. A. BADEN

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Habitat Press

Copyright © 2022 by D.A. Baden

All rights reserved.

Foreword

The Assassin is a novella written as part of the anthology: No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save Our Planet.

This story draws on two characters from the novel Habitat Man.

Reviews

Reviews for The Assassin

‘Witty and entertaining, dealing with the most important crisis of today, climate change.’ Sally Lewis, author/playwright).

‘Love it! The combination of dark comedy and menace is a winner’ Rachel Trezise, Prize-winning Author.

‘Dark, funny and eye-opening’ David Fell, prize-winning author and recovering economist.

‘Inspirational and entertaining.’ Dr Matt Winning, comedian and author of Hot Mess.

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Reviews for No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save Our Planet

These tremendous and inspirational stories paint a better picture of what we need to do to save Planet Earth, than any number of facts, figures and graphs.’ Bill McGuire, Author, Hothouse Earth: an Inhabitant's Guide.

‘The climate emergency can no longer be ignored, it requires urgent and comprehensive action. But there’s so much positivity that can come from that action: clean, green and cheap energy; a thriving natural world; warm homes; well-paid jobs; clean air and water. If we are to build a future fit for the next generation, we must show a positive vision of what that future looks like. And this anthology of compelling, solution-focused climate fiction does exactly that. A better world is possible – and literature like this can help make it happen.’ Caroline Lucas MP.

‘Before we can build the resilient zero carbon economy that we have promised future generations, we must first imagine it: a complex, rich, detailed imagining of new ways of doing and being, of new institutions, new laws, new societal goals. All innovation starts with a spark that dares picture a different way - this anthology is full of such sparks, and our task is to immerse ourselves in them and then dare to act boldly to build the future here and now.’ Nigel Topping, High Level Climate Action Champion, UNFCCC COP26.

‘Today’s Climate Crisis is down to a lack of imagination, blinding us to the horror story bearing down on us today. We now need to use our collective imagination to avert that nightmare – and ‘No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save Our Planet’ shows us exactly how to do that.’ Jonathon Porritt, author and campaigner.

‘We need more narratives like the ones here in this brilliant, evocative collection. Why? Just like the past, the future of our freewheeling, inspiring and frequently confounding civilisation will be created by the best storytellers in politics, business, science and culture. Read, enjoy and share.’ Owen Gaffney, Author, optimist, global sustainability analyst at Stockholm Resilience Centre and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

‘There's an abundance of imagination in these stories; they'll make you think again in new ways about the predicament of the planet and its people.’ Bill McKibben, author, climate activist, and founder of 350.org.

‘Climate solutions demand climate narratives with the power to wake readers up.’ Dan Bloom, editor, The Cli-fi Report.

‘We already have all the solutions needed at hand across technology, finance and policy. The only challenge left is in the realms of psychology and communications. Positive storytelling of a better world is a critical part of bringing all of our communities along on this journey. This collection of stories provides so many wonderful tales of what our future can be. It will be an important contribution towards this better world.’ John O’Brien, Energy, Climate & Sustainability, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

'Bursting with powerful stories and brilliant ideas.' Rachel Trezise, Prize-winning Author and reader for The Literary Consultancy.

‘It’s a challenge to portray global warming because the effects will be so profound and could go far beyond anything in human history. That’s why good fiction is so important to help us visualize, imagine, and consider what is at risk. This wonderful collection can help us grasp the world that lies ahead and the choices we have, both personally, and as a society.’ John Englander, oceanographer and author of Moving to Higher Ground: Rising Sea Level and the Path Forward.

‘Utopian or dystopian, stories are how humans contemplate the alternative futures that lie ahead of us at this crucial juncture in our timeline. By creating these fictional worlds, visionary authors show how our current actions - or inactions - will determine which of these fictional futures will become the reality of our descendants, and help us to become better ancestors.’ Dr Rosalind Savage, MBE Author | Speaker | Ocean Rower.

Contents

1. SARAH

2. STEVE

3. DEVANIKA

4. BARRY

5. NAOMI

6. JASON

7. NEEDLES

8. DAY 1. WELCOME

9. DAY 2. CARBON OFFSETS

10. DAY 3. THE SHARING ECONOMY

11. DAY 4. ON-DEMAND BUSES

12. DAY 5. RIGHT TO REPAIR

13. DAY 6. PERSONAL CARBON ALLOWANCES

SARAH

Sarah guessed who the caller was before she looked at her phone.