The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway (Knopf $25.95) is a rollicking adventure story set in a post-apocalyptic world. The unthinkable has occurred and people are struggling to keep life going as they once knew it. A surprising plot twist towards the end radically changes your understanding of what has happened. This book grabbed me by the lapels with its smart, funny and energetic writing by Our Hero. Warning: Don’t start this before bed. It is a page turner and a perfect read for a rainy day or a sunny vacation or any time you want to escape to a new world. ~Gretchen Echols