The Maiden Voyage of New York City

[DEBUT] The melting polar ice caps and a series of devastating hurricanes have left New York City in the 22nd century underwater and sinking fast, until engineers develop motors to lift the city’s skyscrapers and create a floating city. Hailed as the “Manhattan Miracle,” these advances usher in a new wave of tourism and plenty, even while the remaining outer boroughs are cut off from the prosperity and riddled with crime. As the city’s mayor launches a bold plan to sell Manhattan’s floating (and movable) buildings to other cities made coastal from the rising water, a hidden criminal wreaks havoc in order to force a revolution. Putting aside the lingering questions about how massive buildings could be rooted from their foundations and still offer electricity, water, and sewage, then sail down the Atlantic, Girod’s debut (following several short stories and a self-published novella) still struggles.