Locus Winner for Best First Novel.
In a wretched third world of the future, a young priest from England
pursues the mystery of a disease. Although Father John has lost his
faith, he does his best to administer prayers and medicine to the people
of a Borderer town in what long ago was Northern Africa. He wonders why
so many in the Endless City are dying of bludrut--myeloid leukemia--and
begins to suspect that the reason is the koiyl leaf, which the people
chew as an opiate.
Investigating, John encounters poverty and politics. He travels to a far
valley of radioactive death, his guide a witch-woman. And as he
questions a Europe grown too perfect and falls in love with a Borderer,
he is visited, constantly, disturbingly, by childhood memories of
harvest fairs at Hemhill and a wonderful older brother.