The Blood Artists: A Novel

By Chuck Hogan

Book Overview

Chuck Hogan's new thriller opens as Drs. Stephen Pearse and Peter Maryk are summoned deep into the rain forests of the Congo, where a deadly virus -- set free from a centuries-old uranium cave -- has decimated a mining camp. Desperate, they bomb the area, resealing the cave containing the incurable disease. But two years later, it reappears, devastating the small New England town of Plainville. In the next few years, other isolated incidents are also ruthlessly silenced by Maryk, now head of the Bureau for Disease Control's (BDC) Special Pathogens Section. He and Pearse, now director of the BDC, have become bitter enemies, divided by opposing scientific philosophies. Still, as the virus continues to elude any vaccine with a disturbingly human cunning the men seek not only to stop it but to figure out how it came from Africa. Their battle with "Plainville" intensifies as it becomes clear that the virus has acquired a face, having taken over a human host. And in particular, this toxic creature pursues one brave young woman whose blood, immune to the virus, is the serum of life in the face of a viral death. Pearse and Maryk keep her close and protected, while formulating a plan to get to the killer first.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688156223
• ISBN13: 9780688156220
• Release Date: March 1998
• Publisher: William Morrow
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.0" x 1.5" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

A good read!

This not a book for someone who wants and "easy" read - you have to pay attention to what is going on! It is well written and keeps the suspense and action going at a sure pace. Definitely worth reading.

EEK!! TERRIFYING, TOTALLY GROSS, CAN'T-PUT-IT-DOWN STORY!!

Well, I wasn't sure at first I was going to like this novel. Hogan's use of first person during the first few chapters is not my favorite writing style but I stuck with it and VOILA!!! What a TERRIFYING, TOTALLY GROSS, CAN'T-PUT-IT-DOWN story this turned out to be. This makes you cringe at Humankind's defenselessness!First there are Drs. Stephen Pearse and Peter Maryk, "The Blood Artists." Together, they are a whole person, acting with both commitment and conscience. When they separate and go their own way for a few years, neither can act as complete and dedicated (and honorable) scientists, one possessing the charm and goodness (Pearse), the other (Maryk), possessing the determination and devotion to the "virus".Then there are the survivors of the devastagin "Plainville" virus that wiped out the entire town, except MILKMAID, LANCET and BLOSSOM. Though they survived, their lives are hopelessly and completely changed forever.Finally, we meet Oren Ridgeway a.k.a. "Patient Zero". But really he is never Ridgeway in the story, only "Zero", as is totally and evily fitting.In spite of the complicated story and the plethora of "Main Characters", author Hogan does a fine job of weaving the plot and the lives of the characters into a story that you can actually care about. In the end, I actually hoped for a sequel!!! Perhaps Hogan will grant us that someday for after all, "Plainville" isn't really dead....

Just plain scary

In Hogan's future world, overuse have rendered anti-biotics completely ineffective and blood becomes sacred. Could never happen? Don't bet on it. The pace is fast, the characters are very well drawn and you are hooked from word one. The future Hogan describes is completely believable. Don't start this one at bedtime unless you are prepared to see the sun come up!

A Breathtaking Thriller

Blood Artists isn't the most realistic story ever written and the author tends to over describe at times but all that aside, it is one of the most engaging books that I have ever read. Peter Mayrk is what makes this novel a great success. His physicality and personality make you love him and sometimes despise him at the same time. If you enjoy a good medical sci-fi thriller then you will love Blood Artists. By all means pick up a copy and read it today.

One of the best

I love this book and since I live in the town that it takes place (i'll leave it up to you to find out)it makes it even more exiting. Though I doubt the town will ever reach 20,000 people. It's very interesting how a small town like ***** gets a deadly virus that kills every one exept 2. I don't want to give to much away so I'll leave it up to you.