by John Crowley
First published 1983
Rush That Speaks lives among the Truthful Speakers, a peaceful community that arose from civilization's ashes. Their world runs on solar power and simple machines. People share stories and memories as sacred acts. Rush grows up hearing tales of the old world and its collapse. He learns the rituals of his people and falls in love with Once a Day, a girl from his community. When she leaves to join the mysterious Dr. Boots' Angels, Rush faces a choice that will define his life. He must decide between the safety of his known world and the dangerous path toward understanding what really happened to humanity. His journey becomes a search for meaning in a landscape where the past haunts every decision and the future remains uncertain.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, adventure, apocalyptic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, search-for-meaning
Setting: Truthful Speakers
Period: Post-Civilization
209 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Bantam Books