Rating: 
Summary: Pre-SARS Prediction
Review: This novel was written several years before the SARS panic in 2003 and illustrates what could happen if a new virulent bacteria manages to get loose in the world population. I think that the recent response to SARS illustrated how the world in general would react.The main problems I had with the novel were (1) a few too many subplots running in parallel and (2) a lot of digression into excruciating details of bacteriology, computer engineering, telephone message scrambling, etc. (far more than what is needed for the main plot). The author seems to be trying to show off his technical knowledge to the point where the average reader might be left a little glassy-eyed. It reminds me of old expression about asking someone the time, and having the person tell you how to build a clock. Most of the white hats survive, and the main black hats are eliminated. The novel treats the bacteria as characters in the story, and some bacteria always survive.
Rating:
Summary: Pre-SARS Prediction
Review: This novel was written several years before the SARS panic in 2003 and illustrates what could happen if a new virulent bacteria manages to get loose in the world population. I think that the recent response to SARS illustrated how the world in general would react. The main problems I had with the novel were (1) a few too many subplots running in parallel and (2) a lot of digression into excruciating details of bacteriology, computer engineering, telephone message scrambling, etc. (far more than what is needed for the main plot). The author seems to be trying to show off his technical knowledge to the point where the average reader might be left a little glassy-eyed. It reminds me of old expression about asking someone the time, and having the person tell you how to build a clock. Most of the white hats survive, and the main black hats are eliminated. The novel treats the bacteria as characters in the story, and some bacteria always survive.
Rating: 
Summary: The Third Pandemic
Review: Working in the medical field and noting, from the preface, that the author had no medical background I was leery about the premise of the book. I was glad to be thoroughly proven wrong in what turned out to be a very 'drag you in and hold you till the end' book. I also found "The Third Pandemic" to be very well researched, factual and detailed (downright scary and unsettling at times). This book kept me on the edge right from the unique opener till the unexpected end (which arrived to soon for me). What can only be seen as a credit to the authors proficiency in writing, is the fact that he was able to pen such an engrossing book without resorting to blatent sexual liasons or over graphic descriptions of killings. I now eagerly look forward to reading Pierre Oullette's first book, "The Deus Machine", and any future titles he authors. Other authors I enjoy: Eric V. Lustbader
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