Dreaming In Smoke by Tricia Sullivan

Kalypso Deed is a shotgun, riding the interface between the AI Ganesh and human scientists who solve problems through cyberassisted Dreams. But she's young and a little careless; she'd rather mix drinks and play jazz. Azamat Marcsson is a colorless statistician: middle-aged, boring, and obsessed with microorganisms. A first-class nonentity--until one of his Dreams implodes, taking Kalypso with it.....

Part of the Gateway Essentials and SF Masterworks series.

Winner of the 1999 Arthur C Clarke sci-fi award.

Available on Kindle, Kobo, Waterstones and second hand.