A funny, contemporary sci fi adventure with heart
Ever since Scharlette's parents gave her a name no one can really pronounce, she's been stuck in a bit of a rut.
She hates her job in airport security, making people take their belts off before they fly away to exotic locations she can only dream about. She owns a small apartment with large repayments, drinks bargain bin red while she watches Star Trek, and misses her beloved sister, Jenelope, lost to an exploding sandwich press, ten years ago.
Scharlette fears she might live out her entire existence without doing anything important or mattering to anyone. It still comes as quite a surprise when a handsome time traveller named Tomothy appears out of nowhere and verifies she is correct - that, according to his records, she doesn't matter at all.
Scharlette isn't sure this news is as wonderful as Tomothy seems to think but, as he explains, since her life was to have no impact on the timeline whatsoever, Scharlette is free to travel time and space, and have amazing adventures with heedless abandon.
Excerpt
Scharlette rubbed her temples as she woke, hastily compiling information. She was in a spaceship, high above the Earth, speaking with Gordon, an advanced AI from the future. Or perhaps she was in an insane asylum talking to a mouse? It was difficult to be sure. One thing was certain - she was definitely going to be late for work.
'Gordon, ' she said, and then so many questions jostled for attention she had trouble focusing on one in particular.
'Yes, Miss Scharlette?'
'What's the time?'
'I'm afraid that is quite difficult to answer, as perspectives tend to differ wildly. However, internal ship time is currently 64:38:91.'
'Right.'
'PM.'