"A gorgeously tender exploration of human connection in a post-human universe."-The Washington Post, on Volatile Memory
With her identity erased from the Corporate Federation, Wylla is a ghost in the machine: untraceable, unpredictable, and fueled by vengeance. She fights alongside Sable, the digital consciousness she loves in ways no system could ever define. Together, they've built a reputation for tearing through VisorForge's carefully constructed lies.
But notoriety has a cost.
When one of their attacks draws the attention of the Edenic Order-a clandestine eco-resistance whose insurgents bloom with Old Earth flora-Wylla and Sable are offered something more than revenge: a chance to dismantle VisorForge from the roots up.
As they fall deeper into the Order's radical vision, tensions rise. Wylla: aching to change the world yet seduced by thoughts of a quiet life, free of bloodshed. Sable: pushed to her morals' limits when what she's wanted since death is at her fingertips.
To survive, they'll need to embrace what makes them dangerous: two minds, one body, and a shared resolve to bring down a corporatized dystopia-no matter the cost.
About the Author :
Seth Haddon is the queer Australian author of Volatile Memory and The World of Reforged series. Armed with a degree in Ancient History, his previous life included wrangling cats and crafting worlds as a narrative designer and producer for video games. He lives in Sydney with a toothless rescue cat affectionately known as Gumilla. Some of his adventures include exploring Pompeii with a famous archaeologist and being chased through a train station by a nun.
Review :
A Lit Hub, BookRiot, Gizmodo, Winter is Coming, and Reactor Most Anticipated Pick for July 2026
Sequel to the Lambda Literary Award Finalist Volatile Memory
"A stunning work of science fiction."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Null Entity fuses the ecological world with the technological in a gripping, fast-paced sequel. Its poignant examination of bodily autonomy is reminiscent of Foucault's panopticon, but through the lens of biological code, nefarious corporate experimentation, and galactic surveillance. Fans of Volatile Memory will love this addition to the series."--Meredith Mooring, author of Redsight
"Haddon's sapphic AI romance, set in a megacorporation-controlled universe like Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis or Firefly, also has a bit of Murderbot feel."--Library Journal
"The thrill of adventure balances well with the romance between the two minds inhabiting one body."--Winter is Coming
Praise of the Volatile Memory Duology
"A gorgeously tender exploration of human connection in a post-human universe."--The Washington Post
"Propulsive, inventive, and delicious, Volatile Memory is a cyberpunk romance with a sweet and vengeful heart."--Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of Starling House
"Murderbot meets Firefly in a Thelma & Louise-style, high-tech, thrill-a-minute hunt for freedom, justice, and revenge."--Library Journal
"Haddon combines sapphic romance, fast-paced mystery, and fascinating worldbuilding in his thrilling first sci-fi novel... Packed with combat, intrigue, and budding love, this is an exciting new direction."--Publishers Weekly
"In Volatile Memory, Seth Haddon has given us something remarkable: a cyber-fabulous zoomorphic tale of breathtaking romance and adventure that is also a heartfelt--and sometimes heartbreaking--quest to trust, to love, and to seize one's own authentic life."--Ryka Aoki, author of Light From Uncommon Stars
"Compassionately written and juggling elements of intimacy and sweeping action, Volatile Memory is a surprisingly tender domestic tale dressed up as the best kind of pulp sci-fi.... It is a condemnation of the tyrannical past, a refutation to stasis. Joyfully, it picks apart the contradictions inherent to living, dying, and changing in a body, human or otherwise."--Hiron Ennes, author of Leech
"A dark but tender story about love, vengeance, the masks we wear for ourselves and others, and the never-ending quest for a more perfect sense of self. It's a beautifully intimate story set in the sprawl of space, especially recommended for fans of This is How You Lose the Time War."--Yume Kitasei, author of The Deep Sky
"It can be difficult to find new science fiction that imagines unique and fascinating technology with real human stakes--Volatile Memory wins that prize. Add in a beautiful transhuman love story and a seething revenge plot, and you've got a sharp, tight narrative that had me dying to know what's next."--Bethany Jacobs, author of These Burning Stars
"Volatile Memory is a thrilling sci-fi revenge story filled with complex questions surrounding identity, gender, capitalism, and queerness. I loved how Haddon captured the haunting, sapphic romance between two profoundly different women. This is perfect for fans of This is How You Lose the Time War and Arkady Martine."--Meredith Mooring, author of Redsight
"Propulsive and remarkable--biotech exploration at its finest and most intimate, pressing the seams of form and self and life in a world of suffocating regulation, especially on its women. I was instantly sucked in by Wylla and this unlikely love, with all of its wounds and deliciously righteous rage. This is sapphic revenge with a sharp, raw heart."--Wen-yi Lee, author of The Dark We Know
