Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon

This extensive collection of excerpts chronicles the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, focusing on the struggle for survival and the emergence of extraordinary abilities. Initially, the world is plunged into chaos following a nuclear strike, leading to widespread destruction, societal collapse, and the rise of dangerous factions like the Army of Excellence. Amidst this devastation, the narrative follows several distinct groups and individuals, including Sister Creep and Paul Thorson who are guided by a mysterious glass ring, and Josh Hutchins and Swan, a young girl with the power to nurture life and heal the land. The story details their perilous journeys, encounters with mutated creatures and hostile survivors, and their eventual convergence in a desperate effort to rebuild a shattered world and confront the ultimate source of the cataclysm.