Cold Fusion 2000

Synopsis

Alex Kavanagh is the best!

Problem is, he's the best at being a pedantic physics-obsessed geek. He's a teacher who hates teaching; a lover who's just been dumped (again); a writer whose articles all get rejected; an adult who still lives at home and gets bullied at the bus stop by teenagers; and he's just had the worst day of his life. So far, so bad. Things can only get better, right?

While drowning his sorrows he sees an ex from six years ago, Lucy Spiers. The point when Lucy dumped him for his best friend was the point when his life started to go nuclear. He can't help himself: he tells her exactly what he thinks of her.

So it comes as a surprise when they go on a date. He didn't expect a spark to be reignited. Couldn't foresee the power of magnetism. He hadn't realised that he still loved her.

Holy protons, he hopes she's changed.

And – oh boy! – she's changed all right. For a start, she's actually Lucy's twin sister, Jane – someone prone to misguided acts of kindness, strange visions, and keeping secrets. Someone who knows she'll leave Alex's life forever in three days. As lies pile up Jane wonders if she can avoid breaking Alex's heart like her sister did.

Cold Fusion is a story wrapped around an enigma. It's a novel about making peace with the past and moving on, set in Manchester in the year 2000. It's time for change.

Versions

Please see the 'Buy my books' page for links to retailers.

E-book
ISBN: 978-1-3018-6897-1
Price: $3 US (c. £2 UK)

Print
ISBN: 978-1-291-22251-7
Price: £7

Links

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Trailer
• A talk I gave about the novel
• All posts about the novel

Reviews

"Fascinating, unpredictable outcome with refreshingly intelligent characters. A great companion to a rainy day and a cup of tea. Looking forward to more from this author in any genre." Full review.

"Mr Drinkwater has cleverly interwoven an intricate thread around signposts rooted in physics, mathematics, and even neuropsychology [...] The writing is wonderfully warm, descriptive, even faintly blokeish so that I constantly called to mind Simon Pegg in the role of the protagonist Alex. I noticed that the style changed regularly, at times rhythmic for which I comfortably settled into a John Cooper Clarkeish narration, perfect for the turn of the century Manchester setting, and at others more straightforward prose, a clue again no doubt. With a cast of supporting characters which could have been hewn from Mrs Brown's Boys, there are really very few who really matter, namely Alex, Lucy and Jane, and the beautifully portrayed Natalie. Alex is 30 year old teacher, who as a student fell in love and had his heart broken by his muse Lucy. As so often happens, he becomes bitter and no other woman will either do or is to be completely trusted, and so he floats between his work, paternal home and the pub. [...] the characters and relationships drawn are very human and tangible, recognisable to anyone who has loved and lost, then drifted through life whilst others seem to have it all. Equally realistic is the chasing of a muse (in this case a love interest, yet no less applicable to wealth, fame, power, ambition) so potent yet so destructive as to leave one blind to the possibilities which exist close at hand, patiently waiting to heal, soothe and show you the right path to the soul's satisfaction." Full review.

"Very Poignant, concise, and perfect; a lot is conveyed in very few words. This particular book was incredibly funny and charismatic with well developed characters. The characters felt real way before the story dives into them. Cold Fusion 2000 is a first-person narrative of a nerdy guy who figuratively is on the verge of willfully putting himself into a coma. That's how I visualized the character's personality anyways. [...] The dialog really won my heart over <3. [...] A Funny, Charming, Engaging, and Delicious little voyage." Full review.

"It's rare to find a book that makes you laugh and think in equal measure. Cold Fusion 2000 does just that, as Drinkwater explores that time between leaving university and life starting in earnest, a time that should be filled of hope for the future but that all too often is full of longing for the past. [...] The writing evokes a rare sultry summer in Manchester at the turn of the Millennium - sticky buses, sweaty staff rooms, stifling heat. [...] Alex and Jane are great characters. Alex a frustrated physicist, kicking himself about things he should have done. Jane with a joie de vivre, trying to make amends for things another has done. The scenes in which they are together - particularly those set in the gallery and at the house party - are highly charged and full of longing. I read Cold Fusion 2000 on a train between London and the Peak District. I couldn't put this moving account of growing up and letting go down until it had reached its surprising conclusion." Full review.


"Refreshing. Like a few stories rolled into one - the 30-something academic living unwillingly at home, physics obsessed and socially awkward; the identical twins, one of whom broke said academic's heart, the other hoping to heal it for him; the smitten friend. [...] I recently read Geek Girl and The Rosie Project concurrently with this and it's in good company." Full review.