Rating: 
Summary: Quite disturbing relevations!
Review: For two decades, an elite team of Russian bioweaponeers secretly cultivated biological weapons that cause anthrax, smallpox, and Ebola- related fevers. The author, a former leader of Russia's germ warfare effort, provides an insider's account of tests and leaks, lab accidents and deadly disasters, KGB threats, and assassinations. The author joined Biopreparat in 1975 and was deputy chief of the agency from 1988 to 1992. Since he defected to the US in 1992, he has briefed US military intelligence and is now working in biodefense.
Rating: 
Summary: Much ado about nothing
Review: Yet another attempt to cash in on 9-11. The fact is, bioweapons are extremely poor vector for mass destruction (compared to nuclear weapons), because of the dispersal problem: getting people infected with deadly disease is harder than it looks. The common cold virus, and other such viruses, are the exception that proves the rule--the reason they have survived over the years is because they do not kill their host. If they did (like Marbury virus, Ebola virus) they would not be around after a few generations. Also beware of any book written for the masses that "reads like a thriller". A warning sign. That said, any book that informs is worthwhile, so I would rate this book 2 stars for that.
Rating:
Summary: Chilling, Exciting, and Downright Great!
Review: This is an amazing first hand account of an extremely timely subject, and who better to tell it than the man who was behind it all. This is not your typical dry autobiography. Each chapter keeps you turning to the next. It really is scary to think of what this man accompished and how far advancded thier bioweapons technology devloped. The book is well written and provides an easy to understand account of the world's largest and most deadly bioweapons producer. Aside from analyzing the former Soviet Union's bioweapons progam, the book also considers other nation's progress in the area as well as final chapter discussing the U.S. and its response to the growing threat of bio-terrorism. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: Sobering account of biowarfare
Review: With frightening details that can only come from an eyewitness, Ken Alibek gives the reader an in-depth look at the Russian biowarfare machine. Alibek provides the historical background on Russia's drive to develop biological weapons as well as his first-hand experiences as the director of one of Russia's leading bio-weapons factories. The account is chilling and is destined to leave the reader in various states of disbelief and high anxiety. The book is well written and a quick (though terrifying) read. It's a perfect compliment to "Germs: Biological Weapons and America's Secret War" by Miller, et. al.
Rating:
Summary: Biohazard
Review: Ken Alibeck's book is excellent. It illustrates all the evils of the former Soviet Union's bioweapons program in very good detail.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in understanding what totalitarian communist regimes spend their efforts on.
Rating:
Summary: Twelve Stars
Review: There is no more relevant book to read in September, October, and November of 2001 than this book. The writing is exceptionally clear and some parts read like the gripping spy story that it really is. The author is writing this book because The West has not taken him seriously about the bioweapon technology that was developed in the late 1980's and early 1990's in the Soviet Union. This is one of the scariest books you will ever read in your life, but knowledge is power, and this is perhaps the most powerful book I have read in my life. Do you know why Nixon considered his war on cancer in 1973 to be his finest achievement? Do you know why the Russians so easily agreed to disarm their nuclear programs with the Salt, Salt II, and Start Treaties of the 1970's and 1980's?? Do you want to know how a bioweapons facility is built protect itself, and how things can go terrible wrong in several facilities over the course of a decade ?? What happens to you or a friend you accidentally inject yourself with a bioweapon you yourself have developed for warfare ?? Do you realize that after injecting yourself your colleagues might look at yourself in a new light, more a guinea pig than as someone to be saved ?? Read this book and put two and two together.
Rating:
Summary: Too bad it's not science fiction!
Review: This book reads like one of the scariest science fiction
stories I have ever read... too bad it's science fact!
In light of the recent attacks with military-grade anthrax,
possibly from the author's lab, this book should be required
reading for every concerned citizen and policymaker.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!!
Review: I bought this book on a recommedation by a friend. I was not disappointed. This book tells a very complete story about the biological weapons program in the former Soviet Union. I found myself reading this book for hours at a time and not being able to put it down. The book ends off well with a comment about the current state of biological weapons in the world. With all of the Anthrax scares around now, the book is more relevant than ever. A Must Read if you love the cold war or are interested in biological weapons capabilities.
Rating:
Summary: Chilling
Review: I picked up this book about a year ago, long before the Sept. 11 incident and the latest anthrax developments, and I found it chilling even then. In light of what has been going on, there is in my mind no person who is better qualified to discuss bioweapons and their effects on a nation and society than Ken Alibek, the former head of Soviet bioweapons development. His revelations are absolutely horrifying, and do a great deal in explaining why the U.S. government needs to take the threat of bioloigical warfare more seriously. As an interesting sidenote to this book, Ken Alibek recently briefed the house of reps on the implications of the Anthrax incidents, which stands as a testiment to his level of understanding of biological warfare. A must read for anyone who has any interest in biological warfare at all.
Rating: 
Summary: A Real Red Scare
Review: I had read this book a few years back when it first came out. Now that the issue of bioterrorism and biowarfare is a front page issue, I decided to give it another read. Though not as compelling as some books on the dangers of unchecked plagues devastating the world (Richard Preston's The Hot Zone is still one of the scariest books I've ever read--fact or fiction), it focuses specifically on the use of biological agents as weapons. In this respect, it is an eye-opener. Alibek was one of the key leaders and scientists in the Soviet Union's biological weapons. Until he defected in 1992, little was know in this country about the extent of the Soviet program--a program that was supposed to be dismantled by treaty agreement in the early 1970's. Alibek made us aware of how advanced the Soviet program was. And he warns us that Russia still works on advancing their program despite claims to the contrary. Certainly this is a frightening prospect, especially in light of recent events in this country. Though I do not personally consider Russia a threat, it is painfully clear that Russian technology is leaving Russia and falling into the hands of people who are not afraid to use it. One of the things I like most about Alibek's book is that he gives tremendous insight into the Russian mentality. How even he, as a high-level soldier in the Soviet military, was brainwashed into believing the United States had an extensive bioweapons program. (I am not naive enough to think our program is non-existent despite treaty agreements but it certainly does not compare to the Russian production machine.) Additionally, he points out that in the trying economic times of post-communist Russia, anything and everything is up for sale. I am not easily made paranoid. I prefer knowledge and will not have my life altered by fear. Despite the current anthrax scare, I am not afraid to open my mail or travel to Manhattan. This book did not change any of that for me. If you are a worry-wart, however, I would suggest you stay away from this book. If you want to be aware of what's out there, I suggest you take a look at this interesting story.
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