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Roc, Feb 2003, 6.99, 336 pp.
ISBN 0451459105
A scientist working on a project to eradicate hemophilia inadvertently releases the virus that causes Mahn's disease. The global wide pandemic propels the world's powers to sign the Beijing Treaty of 2013, banning any work on viral engineering.
Geoffrey Allen, a young very wealthy man dying of cystic fibrosis buys a viral engineered therapy illegally from a reputable scientist for a large of money. The cure works but anyone Geoffrey goes near catches what becomes known as AHMS (Acquired Human Mutagene Syndrome), a plague that spreads around the world. Diverse groups such as the American CDC and renegade hackers work feverishly to find a vaccine that will stop the spread of the disease. They then have to convince unsympathetic governments and corporations not to let die the plague victims who are hidden away in internment camps.
There are many heroes running the human spectrum in THE CHANGELING PLAGUE. They range from the man who served as the host of this plague to the doctors who risk their own health so that others may have hope to the scientific hackers who fill the gap when all else fails. Syne Mitchell's latest work revisits hot potato social issues providing a powerful magnitude of perspectives which gives credence to the naysayers as much as the supporters. This is a powerhouse novel.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Syne Mitchell Scholar
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Overall Review
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- fighting a disease/illness affecting everyone
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- doctor
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Earth setting:
- near future (later in 21st century)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a moderate amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue?
- significantly more dialog than descript
