Final answer:
Paolo Bacigulupi's The Water Knife is a science fiction novel set in a future where water scarcity leads to societal collapse and conflict among American states.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigulupi is a gripping science fiction novel set in the near future where water scarcity has driven American states to conflict and desperation. The story focuses on three main characters: Angel Velasquez, a 'water knife' who cuts off water to those who cannot afford it or are out of favor, Lucy Monroe, a hard-hitting journalist, and Maria Villarosa, a Texas migrant hoping to survive in this harsh new world. They navigate a dystopian landscape marked by corruption, greed, and violence, all in the pursuit of the most precious commodity: water. Bacigulupi's novel weaves a chilling narrative about resource scarcity and its potential to reshape societies and human behavior.