I would just like to say to start with that John Case is a very cool writer. For those who are interested in science, or even not, it's a very interesting read. Case seems to have some fascination with biology that involves a VCE understanding of Biology to come out in his books. As the more biblical of you all may know, The First Horseman of the Apocalyse is Plauge. Which is exactly what the book is about.
It is well known in biological circles that a huge and deadly strain of the influenza strikes the Earth on an almost regular basis. At the time that this book was written, we were long overdue.
A Korean village all suddenly fall sick, showing all the symptoms of the Spanish flu of 1918, the world's worst medical disaster. The village is destroyed, but the all wonderful Americans find out about what happened. They seek the last known samples of the virus in order to try and create a vaccine, fearful for what will come. These samples are bodies buried under feet of ice of those who died from this nasty strain of the flu. Only the bodies are missing.
So it is left to a newspaper reporter fascinated with biology and the woman who sought to make the cure to figure out what on earth is going on.
This very well written detective story makes an interesting point about how warfare will be fought in the years to come. Many people fear the use of biochemical weapons, and after reading this book I am beginning to understand why.
Case occassionally craps on about the biological principles he is writing about, but this is easily ignored because it does not really add that much to the plot, the story and the point Case is trying to make is easily understood and enjoying without a Masters of Biology.
I'm just going to start talking about this book, forgive me if it all gets too incomprehensible as I'm way out on the drugs.
The problem with this book is, I don't know how much I can say about this without ruining the plot.
Ever have one of those days where you feel like your entire life has just crumbled down around you? And that no matter what good things happen to you, nothing can help repair the pain from the bad news you've just recieved.
Enter Shadow. He's been rotting in jail for the best part of three years. On the outside waiting for him is his loving wife, Laura and a job working at his best friend's health farm.
Out of the blue Shadow's told that his wife has died in a car crash. He's released from prison only to find that his best friend was driving the car. His wife, gone. His best friend, gone. His job, gone. He's left with nothing left, no one to turn to, no job to support him self and being an ex-con, no hope of finding one.
Enter Wednesday. A strange old man offering him a job. Following him around. Claiming to be a former God and the king of America. Shadow has nothing left to loose and eventually follows this man on a quest around the America.
A storm is coming, a battle is starting. Shadow has no idea where he's going, what he's doing or who he is fighting for. But with nothing else to do with his life, he accepts the course it is taking and continues to follow this American God.
This book was incredibly well written and researched. Gaiman's take on the way of the world, and how religion fits into out life and our planet and our selves makes the book even more interesting, like having a philosophical debate (albeit one-sided-dictator-style) while reading a novel.
Gaiman has been described as "one of the leading writers of fiction and mythology" (Punch) and I believe that is truly the case. All old and classic characters and creatures have been written into this novel, making it remotely educational, but still interesting and entertaining and well worth the read.