Salvagia
A Novel

Tim Chawaga’s sci-fi mystery debut, in which a diver searching for nostalgic salvage discovers the body of the most infamous man in flooded Florida and must avoid suspicion from both feds and corporate mafias. Reminiscent of Kim Stanley Robinson's New York 2140 and inspired by John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series.

Triss Mackey is flying just under the radar, exploiting a government loophole that lets her live quietly aboard the Floating Ghost—her rented, sentient Cabana Boat. In exchange, she dives for recycling recovered from the flooded, formerly coastal cities known as the yoreshore. If she happens to find some salvagia, nostalgic salvage artifacts from the past, well, that’s between her and the highest bidder.

But when the federal government begins withdrawing from Florida, Triss must buy the Ghost or lose her loophole. Meanwhile, the corporate mafias are poised to seize power, especially Mourning in Miami, led by the legendary Edgar Ortiz, owner of the Astro America luxury hotel. Triss needs a score big enough to keep her free from the feds and corporations before the Ghost is sent to a watery, insurance-scamming grave.

In pursuit, she stumbles upon the chained-up, drowned corpse of Ortiz and winds up with more than she bargained for, including a partnership with Ortiz’s hotshot son, Riley. If she can help Riley solve the mystery of his father’s death, it may lead them to a valuable piece of salvagia and with it, the hope of a sustainable, free way of Florida living.