The Jewels of Aptor

Samuel R. Delany published this science fantasy as his debut at the age of twenty, and its energy and strangeness announced the arrival of a major talent. Centuries after a nuclear catastrophe has dragged civilization back to a semi-medieval level, a young poet named Geo signs onto a sea voyage bound for Aptor, a radiation-scarred island of mutants and monsters. Traveling with a priestess of the goddess Argo, he joins a mission to recover sacred jewels and rescue a captive priestess held by the followers of the dark god Hama. Myth, mutation, and poetry blend into a fast, dreamlike adventure. Free PDF and EPUB editions are available here.