Guardian

During the Alaskan gold rush, Rosa Coleman pursues a destiny that will transform the world in this alternate-history novel. Sent from Georgia to Philadelphia to escape the Civil War, Rosa studied astronomy and mathematics before becoming the wife of a wealthy man and mother of Daniel. When she discovers a secret about her husband, she flees westward with her son, traveling from Dodge City to San Francisco while evading Pinkertons sent to retrieve them. Seeking refuge in Alaska's wilderness, drawn by gold rush prospects, Rosa and Daniel encounter a spiritual guide in the form of a raven—a trickster god figure from Native American tradition. This mystical being, originating from a distant alien place, directs Rosa toward a destiny far greater than material wealth. Guardian blends historical and speculative fiction, presenting a departure for Haldeman, a Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author.