The Drylands

by Mary Rosenblum

After years without rain, disaster lay ahead for the Pacific Northwest—unless the strange talents born of the drought could stop it.

DROUGHT had come to the 21st century, and the land was dying. Crops failed, refugee camps over-flowed, and riots raged across the country—and the Army Corps of Engineers had the dirty job of rationing what little water was left.

Carter Voltaire, a Corps officer in charge of the Columbia Riverbed Pipeline, had orders to stop a group of desperate farmers sabotaging the Pipe—at any cost. Nita Montoya, a Drylands woman burdened with a strange mental talent, knew the farmers were being framed. She could help Carter expose the real saboteurs—but only by exposing her own abnormal ability.

In the Drylands, the few people strangely altered by the drought were feared and persecuted if their mutations came to light. But if Nita couldn't trust Carter with her secret, there was no way top stop the wave of violence that would sweep their lives away...

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 22, 1993

About the author

Mary Rosenblum was a science fiction/fantasy and mystery author. She grew up in Allison Park, "a dead little coal mining town outside Pittsburgh PA," and attended Reed College in Oregon, earning a biology degree. She attended the Clarion West workshop in 1988.

Her first story came out in 1990 and her first novel in 1993. Her career began, and has largely returned to, science fiction. However, from 1999 to 2002 she wrote the "Gardening Mysteries" novel series under the name "Mary Freeman."

She was also a cheesemaker, teaching the craft at workshops. At the age of 57, Rosenblum earned her pilot's license. Rosenblum died on March 11, 2018, when the single-engine plane she was piloting crashed near an airfield south of La Center, Washington.
(from Wiki)

Reviews

[Dennise Sleeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

There has not been rain for years and the world has dried up. Crops raised on freshwater, fed by soaker hoses, struggle to remain alive each day along with their human caretakers. Crops raised on saltwater provide a food source at a cost that destroys the land and damages their custodians. Freshwater is piped and micro managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Voltaire, a young Corp officer is transferred to The Dallas and is given charge of the Columbia Riverbed Pipeline. He’s thrown in the middle of a struggle between the people of The Dallas and the Corp. Having been through the water war in Chicago, Voltaire is not interested in a repeat. The Coalition, a group of farmers which includes Dan Greely, is accused of sabotaging the pipeline and killing members of the Corp including the previous CO Colonel Hastings.

Nita Montoya and Jeremy Barlow, mutants of the times or the next generation of humans, fear discovery and try to remain at the outskirts of the struggle only to find themselves deeply involved.

Rosenblum weaves these unlikely partners and the damaged Earth into a spellbinding story that is difficult to put down. I really wanted to read this straight through, but life got in the way. Her vivid descriptions and credible characters makes “The Drylands” a must read.

[Tomislav · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read Mary Rosenblum's Drylands stories in Asimov's in the early 90s, so when in 1993 she came out with a novel in that setting, I read it immediately. As unlikely as human development of paraphysical abilities as a result of extreme drought is, the story itself concerns some fascinating characters.

It won the 1994 Compton Crook Award for best first novel.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Rosenblum wrote a few scifi novels and all (of the ones that I read) included an aspect of psi (e.g. the main character had psychic abilities.) And I love that kind of stuff, as you'll see if you read other reviews by me. The author went on to write mysteries: maybe she felt that she was more successful in that genre.

[Jeanette Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought provoking science fiction novel. The Columbia River Gorge is a dry dusty bed and the people abandoned in Central Oregon are being squeezed once again by the powers that be. This is an entertaining mystery, an 'on the edge of your seat' thriller, and a devastating look at what people could do to the planet and to each other. This is fun, thrilling read.

[NebulousGloom (FK) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a first novel!?! Geez! Many first novels I've read are kind of flawed, but this one was excellent! Yes, it was kind of depressing, but still a damn fine story with real people and real feelings. Definitely an enjoyable and compelling read.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book back when I read it. Strange to think that with the water shortages the west is facing and global warming this might not be too far away from happening. Still waiting for a movie version =)

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, a random book that showed up in a Little Free Library. I recognized the author and had read some of her later works. For a first book, this is amazing.

[Andreas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book a long time ago and enjoyed it.