Earth has fallen. The civilization that once stretched across continents is gone, replaced by fragile artificial lands protected by forces no one fully understands anymore. Life on these protected enclaves is not what it used to be — it is curated, watched, and quietly breaking down.
Meanwhile, light-years away, Mars is rising. A new chapter of humanity is being written on red dust while its cradle drifts through a long, slow decline.
Cold Time follows the people caught between these two worlds — the ones who remember what was lost, the ones building what comes next, and the ones beginning to suspect that reality itself may be running on borrowed code.
From the Author
Why I wrote Cold Time
Cold Time was not written to meet a trend. I wrote it because the questions would not leave me alone.
I have always been obsessed with the gap between what we accept as real and what is actually underneath it — the systems, the simulations, the quiet assumptions that hold a life together until they do not. This novel is my attempt to take that obsession seriously and give it characters worth following.
It is fiction, but it is not a escape. It is a mirror held up to a world that already feels half-simulated.
Fiction With Teeth
It is a novel. The ideas are not.
Cold Time is a novel, but the ideas it plays with have teeth. When a story asks what is real, who controls the simulation, and what happens to people when the system that protects them starts to fail — it is not really talking about the future.
It is talking about the present. About the platforms we depend on, the narratives we are handed, and the slow erosion of agency that happens so gradually we do not notice until it is almost complete.
Good science fiction does not predict the future. It makes the present visible from a new angle. That is what this book tries to do.
The Reader Experience
What waits inside
A slow-burn, immersive read that rewards attention. Cold Time is built for readers who like their science fiction thoughtful rather than explosive — the kind of novel that sits with you after the last page.
Expect layered world-building, characters wrestling with belief and memory, and a structure that asks you to question what you are being told.
If you like the philosophical weight of Philip K. Dick, the atmosphere of a quiet dystopia, and endings that do not hand you easy answers — this is for you.
Themes explored
Simulated reality and the nature of truth
Collapse and the people who outlive it
Memory, identity, and what we choose to believe
The cost of progress built on forgotten places
Reader Reflections
What readers are saying
Honest reflections from verified Amazon India readers.
Lost in fiction
India · 23 June 2022
Amazon
Unique sci-fi
“The Cold Time: My stimulation blunder by Shaan Changotra
This is one of those books that will trick your mind, thrill your mind and keep you guessing till the end. It's a unique blend of sci-fi apocalyptic world juxtaposed with issue of mental health.
It's gave me chills, the words are so profound and I was lost in a mind bending spell. I was in this bizarre world along with the Agushtii Hoffman so eager to know more about the hybrid life in a new and changed world, I applaud the author for this creating this absorbing world I have never come across anything like this.
This book surpassed my expectations with its intricacy of capturing the tribulations of mind and overall mental health.
Through a simple tale, many beautiful messages have been put across with understated elegance. I feel the concept, of waking up in a different world where everything is changed overnight and adjusting adapting to it and how it affects mental health offered in the book are so PERTINENT to us all.
The portrayal of the strength, confusion, dependency, and powerlessness the protagonist experienced without the fault of anyone—just fate playing a huge trick on them—the worst part is being in a lot of pain and staying unaware of it, living life as if nothing tragic is happening to you at this very moment—as if living a life in denial caught me off guard because not many books describe the inner emotions of the characters this vividly and in this much detail.”
“Cold Time is a captivating and unique work of science fiction and fantasy that transports readers to a mesmerizing alien planet. From its meticulously designed cover to its aptly titled contents, this book is a true gem. The plot is both intriguing and engaging, offering an unprecedented blend of science, nature, fiction, climate, and the pressing issue of global warming. Within the pages, the author masterfully crafts an entirely fictional subterranean world that feels astonishingly real.
The language employed throughout the book is exquisitely rich, immersing readers in a sensory experience like no other. While the story's beginning may be slow-paced and the occasional complexities might arise, readers who persevere will be rewarded with a satisfying ending that makes it all worthwhile. In particular, fans of science fiction will find Cold Time to be an absolute delight. With its originality, adventure, and sheer fun, this book comes highly recommended to those seeking a captivating journey into the unknown.”
Kindle Edition Verified Purchase2 people found this helpful
“Without science and technology, we cannot imagine our life today. Technology is the foundation of this book's content. The book is divided into three main sections: The Manufacturing Industries AKA Mars, Death for Some, Glory for Many and the last part is A Curse of the New Earth.
The book expresses a very sincere opinion regarding how nature and our lives are changing. Agushtii Hoffman, the book's main character, emerges from a coma and begins to perceive odd phenomena around him but how will he comprehend his own mind and surroundings?
The plot is the best part. Because of the book's simple language, science enthusiasts can understand it easily.”
“Shaan Changotra's "Cold Time: My Simulation Blunder" is an absolute treasure in the realm of science fiction literature. As a devoted reader of the genre, I was instantly drawn to the book's captivating blurb, which promised a thrilling exploration of a post-apocalyptic world plagued by climate wars and the disconcerting aftermath that ensued.
The story centers around Agushtii Hoffman, a complex protagonist whose awakening from a coma thrusts him into a reality riddled with artificial islands and haunting questions about the nature of his existence. Changotra's masterful storytelling weaves a mesmerizing tale of adaptability challenges and the blurred boundaries between truth and illusion.
From the moment I delved into the book's pages, I was entranced by the author's ability to evoke a palpable sense of unease, immersing me in Agushti's psychological journey. The narrative deftly explores themes of identity, perception, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of a shattered world.
"Cold Time: My Simulation Blunder" is a poignant and thought-provoking read, leaving readers contemplating the very nature of reality long after the final page. Changotra's prose is evocative and engrossing, keeping me on the edge of my seat with every twist and turn.
As a true lover of science fiction, I wholeheartedly recommend this thrilling and intellectually stimulating exploration of a world teetering on the edge of perception. "Cold Time: My Simulation Blunder" is a captivating journey into the depths of the human psyche, where truth and illusion collide in the most riveting and unforgettable ways.”
“Cold Time by Shaan Changotra is not your usual sci-fi/fantasy book. The plot is one of a kind and the implementation of the theme is equally unique, so much so that reading it makes you feel as if it's written by someone from another planet. The story is quite complicated and needs a thorough reading to get it completely, but it is full of adventure.
We are in the future into a world where real life is not worth too much and growth takes place mainly in the virtual world. The world is now in a state of anarchy as a result of the fallout from climate conflicts. There is no more land. The standard way of life on Earth has finally come to an end. This period of time is referred to by the people as the "Aftermath of World War Three with Nature."
The story revolves around Agushtii Hoffman, the first among the survivors who just woke up from coma after two months. He expresses doubts about the new world; while everything seems true, it is all an illusion. However, none of it matters anymore since he discovered that the world government controls the countries. Ronny Atari is an agent of the new world government. Mr. Mathew, his teacher, explains why, and he even explains why there are only four billion people on Earth.
As soon as Agushtii regains consciousness, his friend Harley brings him to an infamous island, where they are pursued by a band of pirates. Ronny, who had returned from Mars, the manufacturing industries, comes to their rescue and saves them. Both planets, Earth and Mars, have an active diplomatic engagement with one another. Following a close encounter with pirates, Agushtii, Harley, and Ronny find themselves on an island that was not created by humans. When they get there, they find a hidden door that leads to another hidden world. After passing into that world, Agushtii wakes up again from coma in the hospital.
Cold Time: My Simulation Blunder is a dystopian science fiction that takes place in a future where our world is suffering from global warming and climate change crisis and everyone needs a means to escape from this harsh truth. Shaan Changotra takes us on a voyage into a highly gloomy future, which will demonstrate to you the need and urgency of focusing on climate change in the present day and age. It gets a bit tedious sometimes, but it helps that the writer also knows how to write well, and thus puts us into a fascinating and somewhat addictive world. It's hard to get out of it until the end. The author builds around the reader a virtual world that is no longer a science fiction but a real world in the future. It is possible that life on Earth in a hundred years from now will look like described in the book.”
Cold Time is a standalone science fiction novel. It is a complete story in itself — no cliffhangers, no required sequel to reach a satisfying ending. A connected universe is possible in the future, but this book stands on its own.
It is philosophical science fiction with a dystopian edge. Readers who enjoy thoughtful, atmospheric stories — think Philip K. Dick meets a quieter, more intimate dystopia — tend to connect with it most. If you prefer fast action over ideas, this may not be your read.
Cold Time is available on Amazon as an eBook. You can purchase it through the link on this page and read it on any Kindle device or the free Kindle app.
The novel deals with mature themes — collapse, control, existential doubt — but contains no explicit content. I would recommend it for older teens and adults. Use your judgment for younger readers.
Possibly. The universe of Cold Time has room for more, but I will only return to it if I have something worth saying. For now, this is the story.
Notes from the work
One thoughtful letter a week on writing, fitness, mindset, and spirituality — the four pillars I build my life and work around. No noise, no gimmicks. Just honest ideas you can use.
