In the future, after much of civilization has been wiped out by the holocaust known as the Flash, a group of teenage orphans travel the length of the Mississippi River in an ancient, yet serviceable steamboat, making ends meet through barter, mail delivery and their post-Apocalyptic brand of rock-and-roll concerts. A close-knit band of friends who act as family for one another, they may squabble but they always agree on one thing: no passengers. But a chance encounter and a series of strange incidents causes them to take aboard a ragged old traveler who’s being chased by a vicious group of backwoods thugs. And from that moment on, the so-called Rats are in danger and adventure up to their ears. For the stranger knows the location of a pre-Flash cache of food, music, and weapons, the contents of which are priceless by any standards.

When their enemies catch up to them, the Rats are forced to embark on a bizarre journey both upriver and over land, making their way through ancient abandoned cities now haunted by feral children and much worse, to find the legendary lost treasure trove of the Pharaoh, a pre-Flash musical superstar. Their allies are dubious and untrustworthy, and their enemies are ruthless. Can the Rats survive an adventure which threatens to uncover parts of the past which were meant to stay buried?

This is a post-Apocalyptic rock n’ roll adventure story with attitude, combining music, mystery, and action in the best tradition. The characters wield their fiercely independent natures like fine weapons as they carve out their way through a landscape brimming with strange threats, but they never forget their loyalties to one another. River Rats is great fun, and it’s good to see that it’s been reprinted once again.