In a desperate attempt to lower the temperature of Earth’s atmosphere, humanity has built cooling mega-siphons. These colossal structures now hold the last remnants of civilization. High above the scorching plains of Antarctica, in one of these vertical habitats, Security Captain Elevii A. Tarkka is tasked with a seemingly unremarkable investigation. 'What We Owe the Dead' is a gripping detective novel set in a dystopian surveillance society. It is a philosophical fiction that explores the themes of personhood, the cultural significance of games, and our duties to the dead.