Dreamsnake - Vonda N. McIntyre - Hugo Award 1979

Snake, a healer skilled in using venomous snakes for medicinal purposes, embarks on a journey across a harsh desert landscape. She encounters various individuals and challenges, including a mysterious individual who steals her maps and journal. Snake's journey is driven by her need to find new dreamsnakes, essential for her healing practice, and to resolve past mistakes. Her travels involve helping others, facing danger, and ultimately leading to a confrontation with a secretive group who inhabit a remote location. The narrative explores themes of healing, loss, responsibility, and the complexities of human relationships.