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Viral: Martyrs
Book 3 in the Viral Novella Series
ebook
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Jordan Ellinger
24 books11 followersJordan Ellinger is a recent first place winner in the Writers of the Future Contest and is a Clarion West graduate. His work can be seen in “AE – The Canadian Speculative Fiction Review”, and the anthologies “Time in a Bottle” and ”Sha’Daa: Last Call”. He has two graphic novels in various stages of development: The Seven with Luke Eidenschink and Causality with illustrator Joey Jordan. In his spare time, he helms Every Day Publishing, publisher of Every Day Fiction, Every Day Poets, Flash Fiction Chronicles, and Raygun Revival.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 1, 2012
The Viral novella series is a collection of four novella length stories, all based around the theme of viral warfare. The four stories are only loosely connected together, each acting as an almost stand alone treatment of the topic. The series is anchored by author Steven Savile, who is co-author of all four stories. Along with Savile, the stories are co-authored by:
- -30- (VIRAL #1) - Keith R. A. DeCandido (when journalist Joe Lombardo is fed information by an old source about the CIA using immunisation programs as a cover for searching for terrorists, he has to decide whether to publish the story and cause untold damage to the reputation of immunisation. Of course, the CIA hired team of assassins on his trail make it difficult to think clearly).
- Anomaly - Jason Fischer (a doctor overseeing a vaccination program in Africa discovers a CIA plot to use the vaccines to infect people to cause disruption to the African Union).
- Viral: Martyrs - Jordan Ellinger (a local Pakistani doctor does a deal that allows him to run a free inoculation program, while the CIA uses DNA taken from patients to track down a dangerous terrorist).
- The Call - Alex Black (Nikolas, a veteran CIA agent, hunts a Taliban commander potentially in possession of a weapon of mass destruction).
I read this series because I've liked the work of one of the authors (Jason Fischer - an Australian speculative fiction author).
Each of the stories in the series felt a little rushed, but I did think the four stories complemented each other well, making the series a good one to read together. The theme of immunisation programs used as a cover for more nefarious secret agent purposes, and the possible consequences, was pushed hard and a little repetitively in each story, although Anomaly used a sufficiently different take on the subject to be interesting.
The writing was consistent, especially considering the number of authors involved. I probably preferred Anomaly, but then I've liked Fischer's writing for a while. Anyone who can find a way to use the line "If it's good enough for David Hasslehoff, it's good enough for me" in a story has my vote. The tension in the each of the stories was sustained and the action was credible.
I think the series would have been stronger if the stories were interlinked more, forming a more cohesive overarching storyline. I suspect this would have been possible with a relatively small amount of additional work - the stories were grouped fairly closely in terms of subject matter. Regardless I enjoyed all four stories individually.
A credible series of modern thrillers, each of which could have legitimately longer pieces in their own right.
Note: the series was provided to me at no cost by Jason Fischer, one of the authors.
I also reviewed this book on my website.
- -30- (VIRAL #1) - Keith R. A. DeCandido (when journalist Joe Lombardo is fed information by an old source about the CIA using immunisation programs as a cover for searching for terrorists, he has to decide whether to publish the story and cause untold damage to the reputation of immunisation. Of course, the CIA hired team of assassins on his trail make it difficult to think clearly).
- Anomaly - Jason Fischer (a doctor overseeing a vaccination program in Africa discovers a CIA plot to use the vaccines to infect people to cause disruption to the African Union).
- Viral: Martyrs - Jordan Ellinger (a local Pakistani doctor does a deal that allows him to run a free inoculation program, while the CIA uses DNA taken from patients to track down a dangerous terrorist).
- The Call - Alex Black (Nikolas, a veteran CIA agent, hunts a Taliban commander potentially in possession of a weapon of mass destruction).
I read this series because I've liked the work of one of the authors (Jason Fischer - an Australian speculative fiction author).
Each of the stories in the series felt a little rushed, but I did think the four stories complemented each other well, making the series a good one to read together. The theme of immunisation programs used as a cover for more nefarious secret agent purposes, and the possible consequences, was pushed hard and a little repetitively in each story, although Anomaly used a sufficiently different take on the subject to be interesting.
The writing was consistent, especially considering the number of authors involved. I probably preferred Anomaly, but then I've liked Fischer's writing for a while. Anyone who can find a way to use the line "If it's good enough for David Hasslehoff, it's good enough for me" in a story has my vote. The tension in the each of the stories was sustained and the action was credible.
I think the series would have been stronger if the stories were interlinked more, forming a more cohesive overarching storyline. I suspect this would have been possible with a relatively small amount of additional work - the stories were grouped fairly closely in terms of subject matter. Regardless I enjoyed all four stories individually.
A credible series of modern thrillers, each of which could have legitimately longer pieces in their own right.
Note: the series was provided to me at no cost by Jason Fischer, one of the authors.
I also reviewed this book on my website.
May 22, 2012
For me, Martyrs, Book3 in the Viral novella series, is the best of the lot, thus far. Once again the CIA is using the innoculation of children in hot spots around the world for their own operations.
This time the action is in Pakistan where Dr. Sahir Ahmed is approached by a woman who wants to be his nurse. When Dr. Ahmed tells her he has no need of a nurse, she tells him that Noori sent her. Noori is the name of his dead son, killed with so many others at the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Nadir Shahnaz has access to a vaccine for Hepatitis B to be administered to children. The vaccine had come into the country via an airdrop that was intercepted and would need to be retreived before they begin the inoculations. This will lead to a very exiting chase scene, but, before that action Nadir explains that the vaccines are really a cover which will inoculate children against a disease that could kill them before middle age, but is still just a cover. When the first dose is administered the "nurse" would see that there was a backwash of a bit of blood. Enough to get DNA samples in an effort to match a specific international terrorist. And with that, I think I've said enough about the plot.
As in the other books in the series, I found the writing to be top notch, with plenty of action, making for a fast and enjoyable read. In this instance, the writers do a nice job in tying up the loose ends, something that was sorely missed in the first two novellas. I would definitely recommend Martyrs and it does work well as a stand-alone work.
This time the action is in Pakistan where Dr. Sahir Ahmed is approached by a woman who wants to be his nurse. When Dr. Ahmed tells her he has no need of a nurse, she tells him that Noori sent her. Noori is the name of his dead son, killed with so many others at the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Nadir Shahnaz has access to a vaccine for Hepatitis B to be administered to children. The vaccine had come into the country via an airdrop that was intercepted and would need to be retreived before they begin the inoculations. This will lead to a very exiting chase scene, but, before that action Nadir explains that the vaccines are really a cover which will inoculate children against a disease that could kill them before middle age, but is still just a cover. When the first dose is administered the "nurse" would see that there was a backwash of a bit of blood. Enough to get DNA samples in an effort to match a specific international terrorist. And with that, I think I've said enough about the plot.
As in the other books in the series, I found the writing to be top notch, with plenty of action, making for a fast and enjoyable read. In this instance, the writers do a nice job in tying up the loose ends, something that was sorely missed in the first two novellas. I would definitely recommend Martyrs and it does work well as a stand-alone work.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews