Set a romantic novel against the backdrop of a uranium enrichment plant with a contamination problem, and the words "quirky" or "offbeat" are likely to appear in the reviews. But in Bobbie Ann Mason's new book, the writing is so clean, the main character so thoroughly nuanced and the situation explored in such a thoughtful way that "An Atomic Romance" avoids any danger of cliche and simply rests on its own smartly told tale.

"An Atomic Romance" is the story of Reed Futrell, a sexy, philosophical "cell rat" who does repairs inside the local atomic fuel plant, the same place his father worked until his death at 36 in a chemical accident. For years, the now-40ish Reed has charged through life without regrets, riding his motorcycle, picking up women, shoving away any worries about his repeated exposure to radiation during his work.

But now reporters are poking around the plant, and scary words flash on the evening news and in newspaper headlines: beryllium, plutonium, radioactive metal, medical compensation, cancer. Fear nibbles at the edges of Reed's mind, and an unaccustomed feeling of edginess settles into his gut. The stories cast ideas he has taken for granted — the plant will take care of you, you'll never be exposed to anything that would really make you sick — in a new light.

Mason offers up the latest information in the low-key voice of Reed: "Rumors were flying around like lost neutrinos. The newspaper one morning early the next week reported that radioactive scrap metal from the plant was being recycled commercially and might end up in such items as barbecue grills and tooth fillings."

Reed's biologist girlfriend, Julia, has also been instrumental in pulling the blinders from his eyes. Last year, when he and Julia were newly in love, he'd taken her to one of his favorite places — out past the edge of town, to the old munition plant. The two of them — both divorced, with two children each — acted like kids themselves, picnicking in a meadow beside the ruined plant, sleeping in a pup tent at night.

That was before an out-of-state paper published a bombshell package of news that included evidence of secret toxic waste sites and contaminated scrap heaps at the old plant.

Julia was understandably horrified. Since then, their relationship has wavered.

Set in heartland America, the novel by the author of "In Country" draws the contrast between the vast, often hidden forces being unleashed by nuclear power and the smallness of man.

But "An Atomic Romance" is also a lesson in love as redemption. If Reed can find his way, however rough his path may be, maybe there's hope for us all.