NihilistApathy/Plot

## Under The Stars

*Under The Stars*
File:UnderTheStars.jpg

Author
Todd Dawson-Cooper

Universe
D-242

Country
Canada

Genre(s)
Teen, Romance

Publisher
N/A

Publication date
TBA

ISBN
N/A

Preceded by
Snow In Summer

Followed by
The Rain of April

*Under The Stars* follows Justin Miller, a well-respected member of his high school's varsity basketball team, as he struggles to balance spending time with his family, friends, and Emily Kaufman - with his dedication to his teammates, as the school heads into the deciding game of the state finals.

## The Rain of April

*The Rain of April*

Author
Todd Dawson-Cooper

Universe
D-242

Country
Canada

Genre(s)
Drama, Romance

Publisher
N/A

Publication date
TBA

ISBN
N/A

Preceded by
Under The Stars

Followed by
The Melancholy of Separation

*The Rain of April* follows Justin Miller's story, a mere two years later -- as his life is completely torn apart by the untimely death of his mother. Over the following weeks, Jacob, emotionally exhausted and the linchpin holding together his collapsing family, meets and befriends the new transfer student -- Alex Peterson, who not only becomes a distraction from his grief and home but reignites a spark of life in him that spurs a strange, budding romance. Alex and Justin soon begin daydreaming about abandoning their small-town lives and starting over in the big city, the events that unfold culminate in Justin taking up the pseudonym of *Jacob Delsin*.

## The Melancholy of Separation

*The Melancholy of Separation*
File:MelancholyofSeparation.jpg

Author
Todd Dawson-Cooper

Universe
D-242

Country
Canada

Genre(s)
Drama

Publisher
N/A

Publication date
TBA

ISBN
N/A

Preceded by
The Rain of April

Followed by
Blank Earth

Another two years onward, *The Melancholy of Separation* deals with the aftermath of Jacob and Alex's inevitable breakup, as Jacob falls deep into a self-destructive foxhole of drugs, sex, and alcoholism with his new boyfriend Zach and mutual friend Kim.

Meanwhile, an emotionally-vacant Alex takes a soul-searching trip, train-hopping down the west coast, revisiting her past, and writing a memoir about the life she once left behind. Alex soon crosses paths with the young Ryley Summers, who much like Alex herself, is running away in hopes of finding a better life.

## Neurotic Atrophy

*Neurotic Atrophy*
File:NeuroticAtrophy.jpg

Author
Todd Dawson-Cooper

Universe
D-242

Country
Canada

Genre(s)
Drama

Publisher
N/A

Publication date
TBA

ISBN
N/A

Preceded by
One Warm Night

Followed by
One Cold Night

With the help of professional therapist, Dr. Palmer, *Neurotic Atrophy* delves deep into Ryley Summers' lonesome thoughts, fears, and spites regarding her traumatic childhood and troubled youth. Ryley reflects on her past decisions and peers towards her uncertain future. Taking place in the months and years following her incarceration after the bloody conclusion of *Blank Earth*.

## One Warm Night

*One Warm Night*
File:OneWarmNight.jpg

Author
Todd Dawson-Cooper

Universe
D-242

Country
Canada

Genre(s)
Romance, Comedy

Publisher
N/A

Publication date
TBA

ISBN
N/A

Preceded by
Blank Earth

Followed by
Neurotic Atrophy

One Warm Night recounts all the odd and peculiar yet light-hearted happenings of Jacob and Sophia's unforgettably romantic and idyllic wedding day.

## One Cold Night

*One Cold Night*
File:OneColdNight.jpg

Author
Todd Dawson-Cooper

Universe
D-242

Country
Canada

Genre(s)
Drama, Thriller

Publisher
N/A

Publication date
TBA

ISBN
N/A

Preceded by
Neurotic Atrophy

Followed by
Chuck's Big Week

May Lawson is desperate to find out anything she can about her brother's killer, luckily for her, with the help of one of her less-than-savory friends, May picks up on a trail of rumors which leads her right to one of the men from that night. May takes the man's ignorance to her advantage, seducing him to her first kill and beginning a long trail of bloodshed as she resigns herself to taking down the mysterious Sacchitello Crime Family, exposing their shady dealings with the international conglomerate Stansfield Industries, and a corrupt NYPD; as well as finding something, *anything*, to make her feel alive again.

## Chuck's Big Week

*Chuck's Big Week*
File:ChucksBigWeek.jpg

Author
Todd Dawson-Cooper

Universe
D-242

Country
Canada

Genre(s)
Drama

Publisher
N/A

Publication date
TBA

ISBN
N/A

Preceded by
One Cold Night

Followed by
Of Cigarettes & Copulation

*Chuck's Big Week* showcases the events leading directly up to *Of Cigarettes & Copulation* from the perspective of police detective Chuck Garland, as he recollects on his years on the force in his final days before retirement, says parting words to his co-workers as they leave for holidays, and laments upon his desire to have done just a little bit more.

## One More Night

*One More Night*
File:OneMoreNight.jpg

Author
Todd Dawson-Cooper

Universe
D-242

Country
Canada

Genre(s)
Drama, Romance

Publisher
N/A

Publication date
TBA

ISBN
N/A

Preceded by
Snow In Summer
Of Cigarettes & Copulation (concurrent)

Followed by
Saudade

Picks up immediately after the closing chapter of Snow In Summer and simultaneously with the final act of *Of Cigarettes & Copulation*, sees Alex finally reunited with the love of her life: Ariel Reitman, for the first time in almost twelve years. As they attempt to rekindle what they once lost many years before, shocking news from across the border, and an answering machine left unchecked - quickly threatens to spoil an otherwise perfect evening.

## Saudade

*Saudade*
File:Saudade.jpg

Author
Todd Dawson-Cooper

Universe
D-242

Country
Canada

Genre(s)
Drama

Publisher
N/A

Publication date
TBA

ISBN
N/A

Preceded by
Of Cigarettes & Copulation
One More Night

Followed by
Holmes

Saudade wraps up the first phase of The Placebo Effect in spring 2020, at the first official memorial service and unveiling for Jacob Delsin. This chapter closes the book on several major characters, who mingle and recollect as the events of the Blank Earth trilogy intersect for the first time.

## Fragmented Ambrosia

*Fragmented Ambrosia*
File:Fragmented Ambrosia.jpg

Author
Todd Dawson-Cooper

Universe
D-981

Country
Canada

Genre(s)
Drama

Publisher
N/A

Publication date
TBA

ISBN
N/A

Preceded by

Followed by
Farewell Abodes

Taking place both simultaneously with and preceding the events of *Farewell Abodes*, *Fragmented Ambrosia* surrounds an alternate-universe incarnation of Jake 'J.D' Delsin and his three closest friends (Zara, Eliza and Adam) as they spend their third week quarantined in a high rise apartment during the height of the LYVID-94 epidemic.

With tensions running high, supplies running low, essential services disappearing, and everyone left drowning in a binge of drugs, alcohol, and emotional turmoil, as what little stability remains slowly starts to unhinge as violent cracks in the group's trust leads the once life-long friends to turn on one another.

## Nihilist Apathy

*NihilistApathy*
File:NihilistApathyS.jpg

Author
Todd Dawson-Cooper

Universe
D-242

Country
Canada

Genre(s)
Psychological, Horror, Thriller

Publisher
N/A

Publication date
TBA

ISBN
N/A

Preceded by
Of Cigarettes & Copulation

Followed by
Apocalypse

In the final and titular story of the *Nihilist Apathy* anthology, Jacob awakens in a strange place, he doesn't remember how he got here, he doesn't even remember who he is, the laws of reality don't seem to apply here, the air is heavy, rooms shift and lead to strange alternate dimensions, and each floor of this demented apartment complex only further exacerbates that unsettlement.

Haunted by strangely demonic-yet-familiar creatures that seem to defy logic and working alongside an equally strange and off-kilter cast of similarly lost souls also looking for the exit, Jacob has to come to terms with this new reality and solve the mysteries within, lest he is consumed by the darkness he seeks to escape. A direct sequel to Of Cigarettes & Copulation.