IQ 83

This minor classic from 1978 might seem like a fairly typical medical disaster story, about yet another runaway virus. But this one has a few unique aspects to it, as Arthur Herzog did some intriguing explorations into the social and human ramifications of his plotline. In essence, scientists have accidentally created a contagious virus that makes everyone stupid. Sounds corny, and in a few places it is, though the novel is still a very rewarding read, thanks to the travails of the protagonist. The hero, brilliant scientist Dr. Healey, is the guy who's trying to save the world by finding the cure for the virus he had a hand in creating, while he also succumbs to the stupid sickness himself. What's really interesting is the way Herzog constructed the inner struggles of a man who was once an intellectual and knows that he is losing his brains, while also knowing that the world depends on him hanging on to his intelligence while going inexorably dumb. This leads to some quite effective musings from Herzog on the meaning of intelligence and smartness (which is different). He also did a pretty good job of constructing his collapsing society, as dumbness leads to some unexpected drama in politics and human interaction. Herzog's science is also complex and realistic, a la the medical novels of Robin Cook and his ilk. Pick up this old novel if you'd like an enjoyable doomsday scenario that's a little deeper and creepier than the rest. [~doomsdayer520~]

(This is the very same review that I submitted to a online bookclub.) A scientist accidently releases a virus that slowly makes people lose their IQ. A first there are little things, like forgetting how to spell and say words, than you forget people, how to do your job, read, ect. Finally, your IQ has dropped so low that all you want to do is sit on the couch all day, getting fat while watching Jerry Springer (because that is all that is on Tv!) Can a doctor find the miracle cure before he loses his IQ and forgets how? ``Katrina

This book is great! It is about a bunch of doctors who mess around with DNA, and they unwittingly cause an accident that makes everyone in the world lose a bunch of IQ points and start acting dumb! It even happens to the President of the US. This is a great read!

Scary idea that we could all be 'dumbed down' by a runaway virus...