“Book Descriptions: Pandora’s Genes, named to the Locus Recommended List and "Best New Science Fiction" of 1985 by Romance Times, is a post-holocaust romantic adventure novel set in the late 21st century. The world of Pandora's Genes and of its sequel, Pandora's Children, is devastated after an oil-spill disaster has led to the end of civilization. Many animal and insect species are extinct or mutated, and there are no remnants of what we consider modern technology.
The spread of a deadly new disease that selectively kills women is the plot point that sets the story in motion. Both novels focus on two opposed groups: one, led by The Principal and his scientist allies, hopes to find a cure for the "woman sickness" and restore some semblance of civilization; their antagonists, The Traders, a fanatical religious group, is dedicated to the final, total eradication of all remnants of “science” and the “wild deenas” (DNA) that science loosed on the world.
Against this science fictional background is set an unusual love triangle involving two men and the young girl that they both love. These three protagonists--Evvy, the beautiful and brilliant young scientist; The Principal, the strong but flawed leader; and Zach, a warrior-poet and the Principal’s right-hand man--alternate as the main POV character in both books.” DRIVE