Questions About The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Hot Zone, please sign up.

Answered Questions (8)

Not the time to read this right now maybe, but I agree with the Stephen King quote on the back cover about the first chapter being the scariest thing he ever read. Agree?

Lynne Oh yes, I agree. If you aren't scared of the Ebola virus get this book and read the first chapter.…moreOh yes, I agree. If you aren't scared of the Ebola virus get this book and read the first chapter.(less)

flag

Is this book fiction or non-fiction? Sorry I know this is a stupid question but I am confused from the variety of comments here!

Shawn In retrospect, given the coronavirus pandemic now among us, this book was certainly not over-sensationalized.

flag

I am a teacher considering this novel for my 13-year old students in our unit of study on infections and pandemics. Would you recommend this, or is the subject matter too violent and/or inappropriate for this age group?

Micah This was an assigned book for me in my 2nd year of college for Biology class and is specifically full of very adult-learning-level scientific material…moreThis was an assigned book for me in my 2nd year of college for Biology class and is specifically full of very adult-learning-level scientific material. The topics and descriptions in the book are very graphic for a teenager, so I would not recommend this book for a 13-year-old, I imagine the gruesome descriptions would be rather traumatic. The descriptions of Ebola are a bit much for some adults, but beyond that, the level of writing requires a fairly advanced level of reading and comprehension. But to answer your question directly, yes, I would consider it inappropriate for 12-13-year-old students. I think the recommended reading level should be 15-16+. As a teacher, I think the best way to decide if something is appropriate for your class would be to read it yourself to get a first-hand experience.

However, if it helps, one can read my review of the book here on Goodreads, which reads in part:

"There are many intensely graphic and potentially disturbing passages that depict medical and viral scenarios, therefore reader discretion is advised. However, if you have the stomach and the interest in the topic such as I did, then you have a very good chance of enjoying this book which describes a real-life situation that occurred that was barely noticed by the “outside world” but was the closest we have ever – at the time of the book being published – been as a species to seeing a full-scale Ebola outbreak world-wide. Our species simply never knew the entire story until the writing of this book.

Besides describing the crisis outside Washington D.C., at Fort Detrick, Maryland which almost caused an Ebola outbreak of epidemic proportions, Preston also traces the origins of Ebola as well as other similar thread-shaped viruses such as Marburg from their apparent beginnings to how they are transferred among species and across species. Though the book is written in the style of Michael Crichton with a hint of Stephen King, there are more scientific aspects to this book including some fascinating up-close microscopic photographs of various viruses including several strains of Ebola."(less)

flag

A judgement from God?

Connor Farrell I would not go so far as to say a "judgment" from God, however, I believe that God certainly has a hand in Ebola, as Ebola is a part of nature itself,…moreI would not go so far as to say a "judgment" from God, however, I believe that God certainly has a hand in Ebola, as Ebola is a part of nature itself, and thus God has a hand in it. (less)

flag

Why is this book so graphic?