Rating: 
Summary: 70% novelization, 30% fact
Review: Considering the nature of the subject and the true character of the events portrayed, I would have liked the book much more if the author had spent more time on the actual facts than on long, sometimes boring, descriptions of places and people.Don't get me wrong - I can appreciate long, sometimes boring, descriptions of places and people. But this book is about real events that might have had catastrophic consequences for the human species and, as such, deserved a less "novelized" approach. Still, if you think that military actions by powerful nations or a nuclear strike are scary ideas, you should definitely read this book. It will open your eyes to the much scarier reality of potential widespread viral infections by microscopic organisms that could literally wipe out 90% or more of the human population in a matter of weeks. Not scared enough yet? Then consider the fact that these microscopic organisms are naturally occurring - lurking quietly in the rainforests of the world - waiting to jump onto us homo sapiens as we venture deeper and deeper into their habitat.
Rating: 
Summary: The Real-Life "Andromeda Strain"
Review: THE HOT ZONE is a history of the deadly and fatal Ebola virus that will scare the hell out of you. Horrifyingly irresistible in its graphic depictions of the effect of Ebola viruses on human beings (Richard Preston points out that one victim's remains were buried in a Hefty bag because he had to literally be mopped up off the floor), THE HOT ZONE gives the reader a real-life glimpse at the inside workings of CDC and USAMRIID, the two United States agencies responsible for disease research and control. The glimpse is not reassuring. Political infighting and bad communications hamper the fight against Ebola, just as with AIDS. Considering that the effect of Ebola is to turn a human being into a highly infectious, bloody soup the turf battles of the virus hunters seem inexcusable. It's clear that an airborne strain of Ebola could decimate the human race in a matter of weeks. There is no telling when (or if) such a strain might develop with just a slight mutation of any one of Ebola's seven proteins. Given that risk, the politics seem puerile. The book is readable and does not lose itself in technojargon, relying instead on the humanization of its subjects, researchers and victims alike. I definitely recommend this as an expose on medical bureaucracy, governmental ineptitude, and risk, though coming away with the knowledge that we are all living in THE HOT ZONE is anything but comforting.
Rating: 
Summary: Wanting to hurl, in a good way
Review: We read HOT ZONE in my English class last year, and everyone loved it. The plot twists and turns and keeps your eyes rivited to the page for the entire book. The way Richard Preston subtley suggests all sorts of possible ways things could have happened, but never quite tells you how, makes you want to keep going, just to see if your theories were right. The way he gave you background and everyday scenes with each character made it so much more beleiveable. All the scientists poking around with breath-takingly deadly deseases seemed just as if they could live right down the block from you. I'm sure you're wondering about my title by now. Well that's how my teacher described the book to our class. "I wanted to hurl most of the time, but in a good way". Well, I was much too much into the book to even think about anything else.
Rating:
Summary: Facinatingly Horrifying
Review: I started this book at the suggestion from my mother, and soon after, I finished it. Before I read this book, Ebola was just another disease that I always seemed to confuse with E. coli, but now, I will never mistake one for the other again. This was a haunting true story that has stuck with me. I have recommended this book to many of my friends, and I also recommend it to you.
Rating:
Summary: More than just an entertaining read--
Review: this book provides suspense and detail on a real event that fascinates me if only because with the current patterns we see in emerging viruses (hanta, killer strep strains, like necrotizing fasciitis, etc.) there could well be a repeat. The detail Preston weaves into his narrative doesn't dull the suspense, but rather pulls the reader in to the inner workings of the military and the CDC in the case of a BSL-4 event, making one all the more aware that this *is* something that went down. And yet the picture is well-balanced, the characters come to life as real people that you feel concern for in a dangerous situation. I found myself unable to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Not a horrific fairy tale
Review: Some other reviewers prefer to adopt the "ostrich" position - (yeah, - just a good story) - but there are facts galore in this "story" (you won't get an official US feedback!) - scientific research is ongoing in this area of virology (strategic defense....Ha!). But now they have "progressed' to human cloning (they really rattle their cages - ). Just wonder what the objective is? ........... maybe we'll see one day soon!!
Rating:
Summary: Will make you wash your hands more!
Review: I found it impossible to do much else while reading this book. It is extremly interesting and frightening. It is the true story of the mysterious appearances of the deadly filoviruses Marburg and Ebola. These fearsome killers perioidically show up from the rainforests of Africa and leave a grim trail of death amoung its unlucky human victims. Ebola kills 90% of its victems. First you get a headache and fevers with vomitting. Eventually you bleed through every body opening. You bleed into your stomache and vomit this black blood. The virus is reproducing exponentially in your body ruthlessly destroying your cells and turning your body tissue to a liquidous ... I will stop there. However Preston does not. It gets pretty gross but this is all true. Ok maybe he exagerates a bit. Most victems don't exhibit the massive hemoraging but then again some do. Preston tells the exciting story of these deadly viruses. He describes their history of appearances. He describes the effort by scientists to find out where they come from and how to contain the outbreaks. He warns us how if we are unlucky such a virus or a variant could cause an epidemic resulting in millions of deaths worldwide. It is an exciting story with horrifying facts. Preston seems to emphasize the gorey details over the science. I see this book scaring off people who are not as desensatized as my generation. In parts it reads like a Stephen King book (King described it as the most frightening thing he had ever read). Imagine the catastrophy it could cause if such an outbreak happened in a major metropolitan city where you live. Actually that happened. In 1993(?) an outbreak occured outside Washington D.C.. A monkey research facility in infected with Ebola. The Army is called in to contain the deadly virus. Are they successful? Do people die? Read the book and find out. Perhaps the book could have been better. Preston does dramatize things a little too far. I found myself wanting to know more of the science. How much is really true and how much is exageration? Even so I recommend the book to anyone looking for an exciting read with a bit of science who won't be scared off by a little gore.
Rating:
Summary: One of My Favorite Books!!
Review: I love this book! It shows in very graphic detail what the Ebola virus can do to monkeys. It was a very good read, and i would recommend it to anyone who has any interest in viruses - especially the virus Ebola.
Rating: 
Summary: An Okay Disappointment. . .
Review: The book had an interesting subject matter, but I was disappointed otherwise. Preston uses improper punctuation quite often and constantly refers to the reader as "you," which ticked me off considerably. He also did not talk very much about the science in the book and seemed to want to dramatize everything rather than gave the reader detailed information. As other reviewers have also stated, the book does read a lot like a grade school book. Read it if you're bored, but otherwise, well, read Andromeda Strain or something else.
Rating:
Summary: A real life nightmare says the Author of $oft Money
Review: A friend gave me this book to read, she told me that if I loved to be frightened, I should read this book. Based on a true story, this book had me squirming in my seat. What was so disturbing and haunting about this book was the gruesome, descriptive path and nature of the Ebola virus. The real life possibilities that exist if an epidemic occured that spread from the African continent, is chilling. If you are looking for something to read that is a real life possibility, and something that will frighten you, read this. If you are weak in the knees and stomach, and prone to fright easily, avoid this book. For a book that was written as a true story, it truly reads like way out fiction.
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