Amazon.com (ISBN 0312859171, Hardcover)

Mississippi Blues is a uniquely twisted vision of a postapocalyptic future in which nanotechnology is just the most recent rung humanity has climbed in its techno-evolution. Goonan's story features a wild ride down the Mississippi to "Norleans," propelled by a nanoplague that may or may not be humanity's saving grace. Our heroine Verity rescues a motley group from metapheromonal slavery in Cincinnati, and they set off on boats and rafts to an uncertain utopia at the end of the river. On the way, they encounter everything from whirlpools to religious zealots to a terrifying little town that would be best described as the bastard child of Las Vegas and Westworld. It's a swirling, existentialist voyage with a meandering soul; weak in structure but strong in concept, with an ending that smacks of sequels to come. --Jhana Bach