The Mad Scientist's Daughter

A slow and melancholy romance set in a post-apocalyptic America a few decades from now. The destructive event that has reduced the world's population remains a background item and there is no action-packed hero-quest/fight against ultimate evil. Instead, what we are treated to is a rather myopic slice-of-life tale that, despite the lack of blistering action, reads quite compellingly. Talking about the central theme of the story would constitute a spoiler. Suffice it to say that this is a vivid character study that plays against a rather bleak, but well-rendered future. Probably not a re-read type of book for me but I do plan to try other titles from Clarke after this first experience.