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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
What We Chose to Leave Behind: The Metadata of A Soul by Anindya Sundar Das is a story about Andy who lives with his wife, Sam, in the year 2050. They are both in the Facility, a protected community. Due to the lack of fresh water on Earth, most people are rationing their water use, and because of air pollution, plants do not grow well. Andy has lost many of his memories, so he relies on Sam's collection of photographs to remind him of the time they spent together. Nia, their humanoid companion, helps Andy complete all the tasks he must do every day under the direction of the Powers, the company running the Facility. Also, there is a large effort going on right now to establish a settlement on Mars. This leaves Andy wondering what will happen to the people left behind on Earth.
What We Chose to Leave Behind is an incredible work of climate science fiction, and Anindya Sundar Das creates a sense of the unknown that creeps up on you. There is excellent suspense throughout, particularly during the transition from loud football fans to complete quiet, and the transformation of the familiar sights of the Theater. I really enjoyed the other characters. My favorite character was Nia, whose independence of thought allows her to come across like a real person next to the humans, even though she questions the orders of the Powers. Bob, a skeptic living in the Facility, provided a great level of unpredictability, and his warnings about the dangers of the Facility's amenities filled the space with an air of uneasiness. I found the science fiction aspects of the story to be imaginative and incorporated seamlessly into the damaged environment of the setting, as the mystery grew through each meeting with the Powers. I think anyone who enjoys climate fiction and mysteries will enjoy this well-written book.
