At the end of Huckleberry Finn, on the eve of the Civil War, Huck and
Tom Sawyer decide to escape "sivilization" and "light out for the
Territory." In Robert Coover's vision of their Western adventures, Tom
decides he'd rather own civilization than escape it, leaving Huck
"dreadful lonely" in a country of bandits, war parties, and gold. In the
course of his ventures, Huck reunites with old friends, facing hard
truths and even harder choices.