escape from perihelion by diego tovar
In 2999, Araya and Zaheen are building a life together in Nova Angeles, the second-class district beyond Los Angeles's gleaming elite dome. Then Araya is taken, forced into indentured servitude, and shipped to Perihelion, a brutal mining colony on Mars run by the corporation that powers their world.
As Araya struggles to survive the deadly conditions of Perihelion, Zaheen is left behind on Earth, where the forces that stole Araya begin closing in on her, too. Separated by two planets and unable to communicate, they are driven onto dangerous, diverging paths that will test how far they are willing to go for freedom and for each other.
about Diego Tovar
About the Award Winning Author
Diego Tovar is an environmentalist and author based in Washington, D.C. He holds degrees from Colorado State University and American University, and his work brings together environmental policy, justice, and storytelling.
His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Hill, Maryland Matters, and other outlets. He is also a frequent guest lecturer on environmental storytelling, with talks at universities including NYU, Duke, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, and more. He is a 2026 award winner for the Bethesda, Maryland Short Essay Writing Contest. Escape From Perihelion is a 2026 ‘Readers Favorite’ award winner and a 2026 New York Book Festival award winner.
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Diego Tovar is an author and environmentalist based in Washington, DC. Would you like to host him at an event? Reach out to diego@fastorbitpress.com