The story takes place following a nuclear holocaust which wipes out every major city east of the Mississippi and leaves the survivors permanently infected with plague. To prevent the plague from spreading, the army sets up a cordon sanitaire along the Mississippi. The story follows one survivor, Russell Gary, as he attempts to get back across the river.
Brian Chaney, a scholar, has been chosen to travel in time. He leaves his safe home in 1978, going to a world devastated by radiation and almost no one left.Won retrospective John W. Campbell Memorial Award in 1976.Nominated for Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1970.Nominated for Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1971.
