The End of October

A Novel

De: Lawrence Wright

Narrado por: Mark Bramhall

"An eerily prescient novel about a devastating virus that begins in Asia before going global.... A page-turner that has the earmarks of an instant best seller." (New York Post)

"Featuring accounts of past plagues and pandemics, descriptions of pathogens and how they work, and dark notes about global warming, the book produces deep shudders.... A disturbing, eerily timed novel." (Kirkus Reviews)

"A compelling read up to the last sentence. Wright has come up with a story worthy of Michael Crichton. In an eerily calm, matter-of-fact way, and backed by meticulous research, he imagines what the world would actually be like in the grip of a devastating new virus." (Richard Preston, author of The Hot Zone)

"This timely literary page-turner shows Wright is on a par with the best writers in the genre." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

In this riveting medical thriller - from the Pulitzer Prize winner and best-selling author - Dr. Henry Parsons, an unlikely but appealing hero, races to find the origins and cure of a mysterious new killer virus as it brings the world to its knees.

At an internment camp in Indonesia, 47 people are pronounced dead with acute hemorrhagic fever. When Henry Parsons - microbiologist, epidemiologist - travels there on behalf of the World Health Organization to investigate, what he finds will soon have staggering repercussions across the globe: An infected man is on his way to join the millions of worshipers in the annual Hajj to Mecca. Now, Henry joins forces with a Saudi prince and doctor in an attempt to quarantine the entire host of pilgrims in the holy city....

A Russian émigré, a woman who has risen to deputy director of US Homeland Security, scrambles to mount a response to what may be an act of biowarfare.... Already-fraying global relations begin to snap, one by one, in the face of a pandemic.... Henry's wife, Jill, and their children face diminishing odds of survival in Atlanta.... And the disease slashes across the United States, dismantling institutions - scientific, religious, governmental - and decimating the population. As packed with suspense as it is with the fascinating history of viral diseases, Lawrence Wright has given us a full-tilt, electrifying, one-of-a-kind thriller.

©2020 Lawrence Wright (P)2020 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"[Narrator Mark] Bramhall animates a storyline that's all too real, and all too close to home, and he lends intimacy and immediacy to the epic melodrama that has now become present reality. Any other time - even six months ago - this would have been an urgent cautionary tale. Now, alas, it's the morning's news." (AudioFile Magazine)

Wow!

This was a very timely novel. My husband and I were very impressed. Felt a little cheated at the end.

What was I thinking?

There were many times while listening to this book when I questioned why oh why was I scaring myself in listening to something that is so similar to what we all are going through at this time! But much much worse!

Still, I simply could not put it down. The characters, especially the main subject, Dr Henry Parsons, were well established and I felt like I just could not desert him! I'm glad I finished it. One of the better books I have had the pleasure to hear.

excellent story

The research was amazing. Story was prescient to current situation. thankfully the disease was much more virulent than covid-19. I thought the details of the medical research was wasted though. I would skip it if it was a page book.

enjoyed!

I felt the ending was rushed, but overall an entertaining story. Perfect read for 2020.

Incredibly Timely and Prescient!

Definitely worth reading for its knowledgeable research and the important warning conveyed. If you like “ripped from Today’s Headlines” Fiction, this is for you.

A pandemic 1000 times worse than COVID 19....

Wright tells a very believable tale of the spread of a devastating, fatal pandemic, weaving in well-researched historical details. The main character is Dr Henry Parsons the lead virologist at the CDC who travels the world to understand (and sometimes create) viruses. His family, colleagues and others he encounters on his global journey to track down this new virus help fill out the story. It recalled for me The Road by Cormac MacCarthy and his apocalyptic message. Somehow End of October is more hopeful at least for the salvation of the Earth. The narrator, Mark Bramhall, is perfect as Dr Henry Parsons and he manages to bring to life a huge range of Wright's characters as well.

Terrifying yet brilliant read in these times

Not sure what to say. It's like listening to the current news but worse. I hope it's not predicting the future. Informative, gripping, well written, perfectly narrated.. but there couldn't be a worse time to publish or listen to it...

Prescient and dark

I have a lot of respect for the author of this timely book. It is well worth reading. Wright's fictional virus is worse than Covid-19, it almost made me feel that we are fortunate to be dealing with a virus that kills "only" ~1% of victims. Many of the issues we face in response to Covid-19 are foreshadowed by The End of October. It's a shame that Wright is unable to go on a regular author tour due to the present need for social distancing. If I had a chance to ask him a question, it would be whether the book reflects his impression of our human condition, or a fictional worst case scenario?

Fantastic!

This book was a fantastic read, from beginning to end! I was enthralled. So many things in this book closely parallel what has happened in the world during the last couple years. The narrator was superb.

Gripping Read

From start to finish, Lawrence Wrights the End of October is a thrilling journey through humankind’s tortured history with the very virus that can end us all. It’s a who done it with a klaxon ending. Well narrated, this is a must listen Audible.