The Jihad Virus : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Fast-paced novel of a frightening terrorist scenario
Review: The terrorist threat that is the main premise of this book has been a prominent news item recently. Islamic biologists have genetically engineered the smallpox virus so that the current vaccine provides little or no protection from it. They have modified the DNA so that the location on the virus where the antibodies attach is altered. Therefore, antibodies will no longer bind to the site and disable the virus. They have signed their work so that when the new sequence is converted into the symbols used for laboratory analysis, it spells "DIEDIEDIE."
Phineus Morton is a free-lance reporter who writes articles on biological topics. The story opens with him attending a briefing at a hospital where there have been some unusual preliminaries, but nothing to indicate that anything major is about to occur. That changes very quickly when it is announced that a U. S. border patrol agent stationed at a remote location on the border between Canada and the United States has contracted smallpox. Like all the other reporters in the room, Morton is suddenly alert and he begins to ask some questions about the point of origin and the potential for a plague. At this point, there is cause for concern, but nothing to indicate that it is anything other than a fluke reappearance. A preliminary test determines that it is similar to the strain that last appeared in the wild in Bangladesh.
Morton then joins forces with Dr. Peyton McKean, a brilliant virologist working for a biotechnology company and McKean immediately determines that the virus was bioengineered into a weapon and that all current smallpox vaccines are almost useless against it. This is the point where the action really gets going. Acting on a tip from McKean' s cousin, they penetrate the lair of the group, led by a wealthy sheik from Yemen. They are captured, infected with the deadly virus and observe many Islamic martyrs also being infected. Their goal is to infect as many people as possible before the virus kills them. They manage to escape and in a wild ride, get back to a hospital and are placed in isolation. Working with his colleague, Janet Emerson, McKean is able to direct the production of an unusual vaccine that is effective against the new strain.
If there is a flaw in the book, it is the U. S. officials that are part of the conspiracy. In particular, the sheriff of the county where the Sheik lives and an FBI agent. It really stretches the limits of believability that a county sheriff would accept bribes to be a part of a terrorist conspiracy to start a plague of smallpox that could kill millions of American citizens. The FBI agent is of Middle Eastern extraction and his initial actions are so obviously in collusion with the terrorist plot that the lack of subtlety is a plot weakness.
Hopp earned a Ph. D. from Cornell Medical College and helped found Immunex, a successful biotechnology company. This background serves him well, as he does an excellent job in describing the underlying biological basis for the smallpox virus. However, the technical aspects are not at such a high level that the reader without a background in biology will be overwhelmed. Combining this with the fast paced action and the story is one that engrossed me from start to end. I have averaged reading over 200 books a year since my age reached the double digits and the percentage that I read from start to finish without reading any other book in between is less than one percent. This is one of those rare books that increased that percentage.

Rating:
Summary: All too real
Review: I have read some of this author's other books, and this may be his best. The Jihad Virus is a believable story in today's world, where terrorism and biological warfare are on everybody's mind. The story kicks off with the announcement that a Canadian border inspector has come down with smallpox, and things go downhill from there. This hooked me into the story because I can truly believe this could happen someday. You could compare Hopp's book to Crichton or Clancy, and it would stand up to the comparison very well. Maybe better. This book has plenty of rock'em sock'em action, and is very thought-provoking at the same time. My favorite: the code within the genetic code. Clever. I hope we hear more from this author soon.

Rating:
Summary: Very strong Book
Review: in light with current affairs&the state of the world today this Book truly seems even more powerful&timely. you will be Compelled&feel the intensity of all that is going down.the writing keeps you glued to every detail that is coming.a Must read.

Rating:
Summary: Short...but exciting....and scientifically accurate.
Review: It is inevitable that a story would be written that expresses the fear of a biological attack by Islamic terrorists. In fact it is a wonder that more such stories have not been written, due to the fear of bioterrorism, coupled with the current anxieties about genetic engineering, Due to its size, the book is more a "novelette" than a novel, and so its characters must be developed very quickly, and with no complications. The author does a fairly good job of introducing the characters, and in letting the main character tell the story via first person narration. Fast moving and gripping at times, it makes for fairly exciting reading, although at times it is very predictable. It also in large degree conforms to the standard formula: chase scenes, a beautiful woman, betrayal, and conflicts with authority.

The story at times reads like a lesson in molecular biology, with the occurrence of terms such as oligonucleotide, polymerase chain-reaction, Hind-III, E. coli, open reading frames, and B7R surface proteins, and a brief discussion of protein folding and biosynthetic vaccines. The author clearly has command of molecular biology, and does not exaggerate what is known in the field, even though there are some silly parts of the book, such as the "DIEDIEDIE" genetic sequence. Due to the serious nature of the story, it would have been better if the author avoided this gimmickry. It is not surprising that the author would mention the work of Australian researchers a few years ago, and replicated recently by researchers at Saint Louis University, these groups having successfully engineered the mousepox virus so as to make it one-hundred percent lethal to mice. This was put in the story no doubt to prick the fears of readers who are anxious about genetic engineering.

The main character is Phineus Morton, or "Fin" who is a medical writer. Fin stands in awe of the scientific enterprise, and like many has a somewhat distorted view of the personalities and characters of scientists, thinking of them as either maniacally obsessed or as science-absorbed ascetics. Unfortunately, there are too many like Fin who, intimidated by complexity of scientific theories and results, give the scientific community too much authority and perhaps believe their pronouncements prematurely and uncritically.

Jameela, the women with the eyes of Cleopatra, adds the canonical sexual undertone to the story. Jameela though is not merely a pretty face, for she exhibits courage and fortitude that are not only refreshing but actually quite uncommon at this place and time.

Infinitely curious, interested solely with the problem at hand, and shunning fame and the limelight, the character Peyton McKean is the true scientist, and is the one who is responsible for finding a vaccine for the virus. Although a fictional character, McKean has much in common with many real scientists, such as the scientists in the flu epidemic in the winter of 1918, those actually involved in the eradication of smallpox, and those currently engaged in the genetic engineering of viruses.

Great insight is shown by the author regarding what it is like to work in a research laboratory, with hyper-competitiveness, personal insecurities, idea theft, and lust for fame more typical than not. Indeed, the biotechnology industry of today is extremely competitive. Patent disputes, investor funding, and heavy pressure to produce drugs are the norm, especially with start-up companies. This is not likely to show any abatement in the upcoming years. The pressure to make money also stifles the development of drugs for curing diseases in the poorer countries. As the author puts it, "saving penniless Africans doesn't pay well enough."

The main lesson to be learned from the reading of this story is the need for doing further, highly extensive research on the genetic engineering of viruses. We must find out what is possible, what can be accomplished, and how effective or dangerous making changes to the genetic code of viruses will be. Such research will allow us to not only thwart any possible bioterrorist attack, but also will allow us to see to what extent genetically engineered viruses can be used to cure diseases and improve human health.

Rating:
Summary: A compelling, adrenaline-pumping bioterrorism thriller
Review: It's one of our greatest nightmares in the post-9/11 world: an outbreak of smallpox engineered by terrorists. That scenario stands at the core of Thomas P. Hopp's thrilling new novel The Jihad Virus. This book does not read as if a scientist wrote it - it is exciting, fast-paced, and eminently readable - yet Hopp knows the science of which he speaks. He is an expert in vaccine technology and genetic engineering, and he founded a large biotechnology company called Immunex. His knowledge of the subject matter transforms this novel into a realistic, gripping read incorporating actual scientific facts and theories into a frighteningly realistic story. Few will inherently understand the scientific jargon of DNA, genetic coding, and vaccination espoused by the book's medical hero, but that sense of realism does nothing to slow down the pace or distract the reader for very long at all, especially since the protagonist is befuddled by much of this information himself. Much of the actual research that takes place in these pages is constrained or stymied by office and corporate politics, as well, and most of us can identify with that type of burden.

Fin Morton, the first-person narrator of the drama, is a free-lance medical reporter who suddenly finds himself deeply involved in the story of his life when a case of smallpox is reported at a local Seattle hospital. The victim is a U.S. customs inspector on the U.S.-Canadian border. Naturally, there is said to be no need for panic, as authorities have rushed to isolate the patient and the deadly virus he carries, but it is almost impossible to isolate such a highly virulent disease. The fact that the smallpox victim is a border guard, who would have come into contact with a large number of people before falling prey to the symptoms of the disease, makes for a frightening proposition. Fin seeks out the head of Immune Corporation, a local research facility well-known for developing a vaccine for the recent Congo River virus, and is put in contact with Dr. Peyton McKean, the unsung (thanks to his boss) hero behind that previous breakthrough in vaccine technology. Fin is allowed to closely observe McKean's work on the smallpox sample, and this is where a good bit of scientific lingo gets thrown around. It does nothing to slow the fast pace of the novel down, however, as the author does a great job of distilling the information into easily understood facts and theories. It soon becomes clear (in the most convincing of ways) that this virus is indeed man-made, and that it has been genetically altered in a way that makes the old smallpox vaccine ineffective against it. It is, in a word, bioterrorism.

McKean is far from your stuffy biomedical genius, as a penchant for bold, heroic adventure leads him (and Fin) headlong into danger - extreme danger. The terrorists behind the virus outbreak are somewhat stereotypical Arabs, but their devotion to their cause makes for an enervating injection of drama into the story. The story comes down to a race against time to develop a synthetic vaccine for the virus and to bring to justice the Sheikh responsible for unleashing an attack intended to wipe out the United States population. Throw in an exotic love interest, the complicity of several traitorous law enforcement officials, and the most severe of handicaps for the brilliant Dr. McKean's work, and you have a rip-roaring story that builds in suspense and excitement as the virus spreads and time draws ever shorter.

This is by no means a gloom and doom novel, as there is a surprising amount of comedy in these pages. This might seem to be incongruous to the subject matter, but humor can be an effective way of dealing with times of crisis. There's plenty of hero-type adventure, as well, as McKean and Morton go out in search of the terrorists while McKean's able assistants do the necessary leg work in preparing a vaccine. One or two of the pieces to the puzzle seem to drop into the main characters' laps, but this fact does little to take anything away from this well-written scientific thriller. Several plot twists along the way keep the story fresh and thrilling, turning this scientific bioterrorism thriller into an adrenaline-pumping heroic epic.

Rating:
Summary: Ripping good yarn
Review: Since I don't read thrillers all that often, I can't say whether or not the events of September 11, 2001 fundamentally changed the genre. You would think that dark day would, though. I suspect the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon provided writers of medical, biological, and terrorist themed thrillers with a plethora of plot narratives to exploit. I do know writers in this genre are particularly sensitive to whatever threats the United States faces at the moment, as well they should be. A few years ago I read one of these books that dealt with the rise of a dangerous religious cult, right around the time the Heaven's Gate group went bonkers. September 11, 2001 sits in a league of its own, with the threat of nuclear, biological, and chemical disasters hovering over our heads even three years later. The opportunities for terrorists to strike at us are endless, and so are the possibilities for writing a book about Islamic fundamentalists threats. "The Jihad Virus" is such a novel, a book detailing the potential dangers of an Al-Qaeda type group attacking the United States with a modified form of everyone's favorite friend from yesteryear, smallpox.

The story of this potentially catastrophic disaster comes to us in the form of a narrative told by Phineus "Fin" Morton, a reporter whose beat covers the medical field. He's the guy who punches up the articles on the latest cancer treatments or the groundbreaking work in the field of virus research. Old Fin knows he's on to something huge when he attends what he thought would be a routine press conference in the Pacific Northwest. It's hardly routine. Morton is on hand to hear the details of a smallpox outbreak near the Canadian border. The authorities downplay the incident, of course, but then announce they're bringing in Stuart Holloman, head of a huge research laboratory named Immune Corporation, to help contain the problem. We learn this is the company that developed a cure for one of those nasty African viruses, and that they hope to study the potential lethality of this latest outbreak. Fin Morton immediately hops to it, securing an interview with Holloman at his office and thus positioning himself at ground zero if a big story should break. While Fin doesn't care a whit for Stuart Holloman, rightly ascertaining the guy's a greedy capitalist posing as a researcher so he can make big bucks in the research field, the reporter comes to a different conclusion when he meets Immune Corporation's star researcher Peyton McKean.

McKean, it turns out, was the guiding light behind the African virus cure. Holloman keeps the guy under wraps so the competition can't get their greedy mitts on him. The scientist, a deep thinking but easy going chap, takes a shine to Morton and quickly shows him everything that goes on in the laboratory. Before you can say "smallpox," McKean receives a call from his squirrelly cousin Mike about weird goings on at a ranch out in the hinterlands. According to the phone call, some Yemeni billionaire named Sheik Abdul-Ghazi is up to no good. Mike claims he saw some men taking a handcuffed woman into an outbuilding, a woman the press recently reported missing from a bar in Seattle. Peyton McKean and Fin Morton, their suspicions aroused, decide to drive out to Mike's place to investigate. Sure, it would be easier to tell everything they suspect to the FBI, but both men have good reason to suspect one of the agents might not be on the up and up, so they go it alone. Bad mistake. The Sheik and his minions are producing the engineered smallpox, and they promptly pull a nasty trick on Morton, McKean, and Mike after catching the trio snooping around the ranch. What follows is non-stop action as our heroes must stop the terrorists from destroying America, save their own lives, and produce a cure. Fin Morton must also decide what to do about his feelings for a beautiful Egyptian horse trainer named Jameela Noori.

There is no other way to do this than to come right out and say it: "The Virus Jihad" is a smashing great thriller, a book that moves faster than Fin Morton's stripped down Jaguar. Author Thomas Hopp is eminently qualified to write a biological thriller, considering his background as a biotechnologist and founder of a multi-billion dollar research company, but who would have thought a guy accustomed to test tubes and microscopes could pen such a nail biting thriller? You get car chases, a beautiful woman, shootouts, crooked cops, a deadly plague, and romance all in the space of 213 pages. You get fundamentalist terrorists encoding engineered viruses with scientific ciphers spelling out "DIE DIE DIE." And you get enough twists and turns to satisfy even the most jaded reader. Sure, a few of the events in the narrative are implausible, such as the fortuitous phone call from Mike, or the incredible luck involved in patching together a workable vaccine, but implausibility in this case doesn't interfere at all with the book's impact. "The Jihad Virus" is an immensely entertaining book.

The best aspect of Hopp's story, in my opinion, is how he doesn't assume his readers know a lot about virology, biology, and any other related -ologies. He explains in minute but easily understandable detail what McKean does in the laboratory, how scientists study viruses, and how a combination of egos and corporate red tape often ties up scientific discoveries. I'm familiar with the wacky world of academia, but the connect the dots approach to cutting edge biotechnology sure helped this science dummy feel better. If you love thrillers, I can't imagine you wouldn't heartily enjoy "The Jihad Virus."


Rating:
Summary: Intriguing Insights into Creating and Defeating Bioweapons
Review: The best action novels about the possible end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it are usually inform us about the details of threats of lifestyles that are hidden to the average reader. The Jihad Virus takes that important informational element and expands it way beyond what I have ever seen done before concerning bioweapons. The result is to both inform and entertain the reader in a pleasantly terrifying way.

Dr. Hopp is the real thing in this area. He has a Ph.D. from Cornell and worked at Immunex in biotechnology. In addition, he holds a number of patents for genetic engineering and vaccine technologies.

For many people, that background would be a little discouraging. How can we possibly understand what Dr. Hopp does? Well, he makes it amazingly easy to follow advanced ideas and practices, and to make them quite interesting. The book even his little jokes hidden in it to make the whole subject less daunting.

If I were only grading this book on its ability to put together a taut plot on bioweapons, it would be more than a five-star book.

Why then, did I grade The Jihad Virus a little lower than that? Well, Dr. Hopp decides to take his scientific and journalist heroes and make them into action heroes as well. To do that, he has to stretch the plot a little more than is good for the story's believability. So the book is filled with more coincidences than is good for it. But Dr. Hopp does keep his tongue firmly in his cheek in such scenes and makes them humorous as well as entertaining. It's just that you step back away from the story when he does rather than continuing to be frightened by it.

On the other hand, if you like your suspense action-thrillers to have a campy side, this is definitely your book.

I hope Dr. Hopp will write more books like this one.

Keep your eyes open for what doesn't fit!


Rating:
Summary: Searingly informed,elegantly crafted,timely terrorist tale
Review: THE JIHAD VIRUS is one of those rare books that pack so much understandable information about matters scientific that the reader benefits form an enriched education while still being "entertained." Thomas P. Hopp reveals himself to be a fine writer, able to use his obvious depth of knowledge (he is schooled in immunology and virology and has made a significant impact on the fields of genetic engineering and vaccine production) and go beyond those elements of content to create a novel that is enriched by three-dimensional characters about whom we care very much. He wisely introduces his story with a quiet press conference about a problem at the Canadian/US border that his inquisitive reporter Fin Morton investigates and finds that the 'problem' is a genetically altered form of smallpox virus that has been engineered by Islamic terrorists to be a weapon of vast destruction not unlike the plague of the Middle Ages! Just how he proceeds with his investigative reporting, enlisting a genius immunologist, becoming infected with the deadly altered virus, and eventually uncovering the deadly plot, makes for page-turning reading. Yes, similar topics are rampant in both the movie theaters and on the shelves in bookstores right now: we live in the time of fear and anxiety about germ warfare among other forms of terrorism. But few writers have the ability to create so credible a scenario as Hopp. This is a fascinating book to read, a wakeup call to those who think 'it can't happen here', and a tribute to the talent of a fine scientist who has successfully crossed the bridge into quality literature! Recommended Reading!

Rating:
Summary: A Tale of Biological Terror Unleashed in America
Review: The threat of an international bioterrorist attack against the U.S. becomes real in Thomas P. Hopp's novel, The Jihad Virus. A world-recognized vaccine expert, Dr. Hopp writes with authority about what might happen if Islamic terrorists unleashed a deadly, mutated strain of smallpox virus in America.

The Jihad Virus opens as a medical reporter, Fin Morton, attends a press conference at a Seattle public health hospital to learn that a customs inspector at the Canadian border has been admitted to the isolation ward-with smallpox.

One shock leads to another as Fin learns that the virus's DNA has been deliberately engineered to enhance its lethality. Fin follows the progress of a brilliant vaccine researcher, Dr. Peyton McKean, as the biotech sleuth attempts to discover the whereabouts of the terrorists, and develop a vaccine to protect Americans against the Jihad Virus's deadly effects. A trail of clues leads to a remote western ranch, where Islamic fundamentalists are preparing a massive assault against the population of the U.S., led by master terrorist, Sheik Abdul-Ghazi.

Millions may die unless McKean can find a cure. But first, McKean and Fin are challenged to save themselves, when they are captured by the Sheik's cohorts and deliberately infected with the very virus McKean is trying to cure! The Jihad Virus explores one of America's darkest fears, but offers hope of fighting back against the deadliest assault on humanity imaginable, biological warfare.


Rating:
Summary: Scary. Accurate and ...timely.
Review: This is fiction that is quite timely--bioterrorism is a fear of governments and individuals. We've already seen anthrax used by some insane person to kill innocent people. Let alone the labs in the Middle East where dictators were attempting to create monstrous plagues of death.

Smallpox was a great choice; a deadly disease if one has no immunity, and a disease considered wiped out by W.H.O. --so much so it was debated if stocks of virus were necessary to keep in the deep freeze. And smallpox, with its horrible bursting blisters that literally shred the skin as they erupt, shocking the victim into death, is a disease on par with Ebola.

Dr. Hopp knows his science, and this is a fast-moving novel with very believable characters. If you liked "Hot Zone" or "The Andromeda Strain", you will love this novel.