Pandemic

This is the second book by Dr. Kalla that I have read. I enjoyed the first one well enough to want to try this one. Glad I did! "Pandemic" tells the story of a global bioterrorist attack and how the U.S. and Dr. Noah Haldane's WHO team deal with it. Like one of my favorite writers, the late Michael Crichton, Dr. Kalla manages to, both, entertain with a completely believable plot and human...albeit flawed...characters, while, also, managing to, painlessly, sneak in a little education. The result is a book that I had trouble putting down. In fact, I read the whole thing through in less than 2 days. It was that riveting! If you like intelligent, well written thrillers, I recommend this book highly.

Dr. Kalla has written an exceptionally thoughtful first novel. The historical background is correct, and the medical information is solid and well written for a lay audience to be able to understand. Although this is not a novel to be immediately understood by someone totally without a science background, the facinating concept of the book should keep a layperson interested enough in the beginning to lead them to greater and greater understanding of the science involved. The concept of the book is deeply frightening in the utter reality of its possibilities. The world is, in my knowledge, deeply incapable, at this point in time, of meeting a true flu pandemic - which Dr. Kalla goes out of his way to prove is greatly overdue. Another point which deserves great admiration is Dr. Kalla's insight of, and introduction to, the Muslim religion in all of its diversity of thought. While giving deep insight into the vitriolic mindset of the terrorist, his portrayal of the Muslim people stops not with the twisted Kabaal and Sabri, nor with the mindless obedience of their followers. Dr. Kalla also draws a thoughtful picture of the other side of the Muslim religion in his portrayal of Inspector Eleish and his family. Eleish and others like him are the quiet side of the faith, those who have studied their religion, only to find in it the deep, abiding spirituality from which they gather strength in their day-to-day lives. It is not my point here, in any way, to delve into a discussion of religion. It is, however, refreshing to read an author who is not only willing, but capable of, showing both sides of the issue in a clear and understandable manner. Especially to a person who, like myself, is not a religious person and never has been. It is, however, interesting to me that we tend to paint all Muslims with the same brush, as terrorists and monsters. That is, in my estimation, like saying that all Americans are members of the Klan or the White Supremist movement, or practice Christian Religious Fundamentalism. An awfully wide brush for an extremely diverse population. Pick it up for the solid science, or the rollicking storyline, or just for a bit of excitement. But do pick up this book - I doubt you will regret it. However, it probably isn't such a good idea to read it on an overcrowded jetliner, as I did, for several hours when your seatmate has a cold - - it made me rather jumpy, it did! :-)

I love to read thrillers, but not particularly medical thrillers. That's probably because as a neurosurgeon I have spent my entire medical career dealing with more than enough spine-chilling medical challenges. However, PANDEMIC's prolog totally hooked me. Rather than rehashing the tired plots of an evil HMO or serial killers lurking within the darkened, gurney littered halls of Podunk General Hospital, Kalla presents a timely and very plausible bioterrorism scenario. Particularly timely in view of the recent bird flu outbreaks in Asia. Like many readers, I enjoy learning something from a book, but the problem with some medical thrillers is feeling I'm being lectured to. (I get my fill of that during CME courses.) Not so with PANDEMIC. Kalla presents interesting tidbits about epidemiology and viruses seamlessly during very real dialog between very real characters. I rate PANDEMIC an enthusiastic three thumbs up and eagerly look forward to snapping up Kalla's next novel. Allen Wyler (Seattle, WA)

Worried about what all the news about avian flu and a possible pandemic might imply? Read Dr. Dan Kalla's new medical thriller, PANDEMIC, for one possible answer. Dr. Kalla expertly interweaves medical knowledge and the real life history of the last great influenza pandemic in 1919 with the all too-real possibility of terrorists engineering a new pandemic. His main characters Dr. Noah Haldane and Dr. Gwen Savard spring to life and engage the reader with both their personal and professional conflicts. Even the terrorists who plan to spread a disease that may well condemn many of their own people as well as the "infidel" populace, are three-dimensional with well-thought out motivations and rationales that make the reader think. The action is interspersed with thoughtful descriptions and explanations so that even those without medical knowledge can follow the plot effortlessly. For a fast-paced, high tension read that will make you think twice about the stranger coughing beside you, read PANDEMIC. CJ Lyons

I read Pandemic in one sitting on a flight from the US to China. Pandemic is a book that once you pick it up you will not be able to put it down. Pandemic is educational, intelligent and most importantly rings amazingly true with a story line that could play out for real. I would give Pandemic my highest recommendation.