Fertile Ground

Charles Wilson put together a great scientific thriller with information about epidemiology, medicine, and a little anthropology thrown in. The book starts off a little dull, but it picks up fast, and it is a great ride the whole way through. I only really have two complaints about the book: First, yes, viruses can be transmitted by insects. They are commonly called arboviruses, and one of the world's foremost research labs on them is at Yale University. Secondly, Dr. Jefferies' actions are incredibly dumb. He really, really should have known better, and, though I understand he was in kind of a distressed mental state, I spent that part of the book cursing him and his stupidity. Even the eventual outcome of the mistake wasn't worth it, and no doctor would behave this way; putting thousands of lives at risk for one is careless, regardless of if it is your wife. Other than that, though, the book was written very well. The divisions between scenes could be a little cleaner, with separate chapters for different characters, but that was a slight problem in the grand scheme of things. So, if you like medical or scientific thrillers a la Dan Brown, Michael Crichton, Jeff Long, or Robin Cook, check this out. It is a repeatable read. Harkius

I JUST FINISHED THIS BOOK. I FOUND IT AS ONE OF THE BETTER MEDICAL THRILLERS I HAVE READ IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I WOULD GLADLY RECCOMEND IT TO ANYONE INTERESTED IN THIS GENRE.

I thought that this was a great book! A lot better than direct desendant (that booked was one of the worst ever!!). Fertile Ground had a little bit of medical stuff in it and some thrills it was the perfect combination! I am just starting nightwatchers and hope that it is as good!!~

This is the same author who predicted in his work of fiction, DIRECT DESCENDANT, what has now happened with Scottish researchers last week creating the first mammal ever cloned. I give DIRECT DESCENDANT the edge over this more-standard, medical thriller, but only because of the uncanny, once-in-a-lifetime-coincidence of the prediction. You'll enjoy both though