The Patron Saint of Plagues: A Novel

by Barth Anderson

In this biological thriller of the near future, postinsurrection Mexico has undermined the superpower of the United States. But while the rivals battle over borders, a pestilence beyond politics threatens to explode into a worldwide epidemic. . . .

Since the rise of the Holy Renaissance, Ascension—once known as Mexico City—has become the most populous city in the world, its citizens linked to a central government net through wetware implanted in their brains. But while their dictator grows fat with success, the masses are captivated by Sister Domenica, an insurgent nun whose weekly pirate broadcasts prophesy a wave of death. All too soon, Domenica’s nightmarish prediction proves true, and Ascension’s hospitals are overrun with victims of a deadly fever. As the rampant plague kills too quickly to be contained, Mexico smuggles its last hope over the violently contested border. . . .

Henry David Stark is a crack virus hunter for the American Center for Disease Control and a veteran of global humanitarian efforts. But this disease is unlike any he’s seen before—and there seems to be no way to cure or control it. Racing against time, Stark battles corruption to uncover a horrifying this is no ordinary outbreak but a deliberately unleashed man-made virus . . . and the killer is someone Stark knows.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, Fantasy, Mystery, Dystopia

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Barth Anderson's imaginative fiction has appeared in Asimov's, Strange Horizons, Alchemy, Polyphony, and a variety of other quality venues. He received the Spectrum Award for Best Short Fiction in 2004. Regarding his first novel, The Patron Saint of Plagues, (Bantam Spectra; 2006), Salon said, "Anderson has some serious writing chops, and he delivers a page turner that is at once a medical thriller, cyberpunk romp and provocative tease."

His second novel, The Magician and The Fool (Random House), was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award.

Barth is a journalist, a blogger, and a food movement activist. He lives in Minneapolis.

Reviews

[Gwen Veazey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gambled on this one at the used book store buying it based on title and cover blurb. Almost tossed it after the awful prologue but glad I kept reading. Engaging and well-written near-future story of a dengue fever virus out of control. Eerie to read it during the COVID-19 pandemic. One interesting thing about pandemic novels I've read is that the resolution is always tied to finding the cure, getting a vaccine. The idea that people won’t TAKE the vaccine is never part of the plot. :-/

[Sheila Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm torn in my opinion of this book. While the plot was interesting in many places, there were others in which the story was brought almost to a halt by "dreams" and characters thinking about their pasts that seemed to have nothing to do with the overall story. The premise of a futuristic world had some good qualities; however, I believe it would have worked better to have given that basic history and the technological information at the very beginning. Without that information, I was lost until there was enough information provided to understand why certain things were being done and how things worked.

[Michael Harry · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was awful. The blurb on the back sounded interesting but in practice the whole set up was far too implausible. I can't see anything like that in Mexico or America's future.

The dialogue was very bad. I know that was intentional for a few characters anyway but it made for annoying reading and I thought this was pointless. The book also is a bit too technical in it's esoteric biological sectionsl for a work of fiction.

I nearly gave up so many times with this book. I should have done.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I simply couldn't wait to be done with this book. It just never hooked me, and there seemed to be so much stuff that was thrown in just for flair. Like the main character's verbal tick of never using any form of the verb "to be"- there was no point to it, especially since it only applied in English and he spent most of the novel speaking Spanish. That's a petty complaint, though. Overall, I just was not satisfied with this book. It felt like it was trying to be too much, and it didn't quite work for me.

[Brown Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like Anderson wrote this as though he wasn't going to get another chance at a published novel: a kitchen sink book.

There's a post-cyberpunk Mexico City on caissons, there's machines and humans in conflict, there's pandemics, there's social pressure and latent revolutionary fervor.

It's probably too much, as the story just can't carry all that freight, but it's an admirable effort and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys futurism. It's still relevant, though it has the same liability as any societal pulse-checking narrative.

[Chriskolak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad start at all. Like Tom Clancy for people who actually know about science.

[Bracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this book was 30% shorter it'd be 100% better.

[Joann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, science fiction, futuristic. I loved this book waaaaay before this covid b.s . I found myself milking the last few pages I wanted to finish the book, but didnt want it to be over it was THAT GOOD!

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8

[Frasnik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like Snow Crash if it took place entirely in the real featuring a doctor instead of a pizza delivery driver. Entertaining.

[Don Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew working for the CDC would be so…interesting? Barth Anderson mixes cyber and biopunk into a taut thriller set in Ascension, an ultra-modernized version of Mexico City in the early 2060s.

In this novel’s version of the near future, a viral pandemic explodes on the streets, killing its victims in horrible fashion while a team of doctors led by Henry Stark desperately try to control its spread and create a vaccine. Complicating his efforts is a dystopian, dictatorial government, a messianic nun known as Sister Domenica and a shadowy killer bent on unleashing his genocidal plague.

The Patron Saint of Plagues takes a hard look at human augmentation and genetically modified viruses - and the potential for targeting people based on those augmentations. It’s about how racism, colonialism and backlash to a changing world, and how that can be a deadly combination in the wrong hands. It also highlights something we see a lot of: a callous disregard for anyone caught in the crossfire.

The author effectively weaves the plot through corrupt government institutions, introduces agents who may or may not be working in concert with the main character, and kept me turning pages with vibrant scenes and characters, action, medical drama, tension and the question at the heart of the book: who’s responsible for all this?

What stuck with me from this novel – and why I’ve reread it recently, is that Henry Stark doesn’t just have to deal with a pandemic: while he’s trying to save ordinary people’s lives, he’s got to fight bureaucracy, willful ignorance, corruption and the age-old demons of any stratified society – wealth, class, ethnic origin, religion and old-fashioned psychopathy.

Despite being published so long ago, I still think this book holds together well today. While the science behind vaccines has changed, and we’ve recently learned how a global response to pandemics can unfold, I don’t think you’re going to notice unless you’re an epidemiologist or someone in the medical field. This is good stuff, and I highly recommend this book.

5 out of 5 stars.

Rating system:
• 1 star - awful - do not waste your time.
• 2 stars - still bad, but there are some redeeming qualities - others may enjoy it.
• 3 stars - decent to very good - buy it on sale.
• 4 stars - great to amazing - definitely worth a read.
• 5 stars - defining work and a must read for your collection.

[Natlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, excellently paced medical thiller about an outbreak of a terrorist-designed form of dengue in a future Holy Renaissance–run Mexico City. The science fiction elements (chiefly, the pilone network that allows instant communication among those who have had the surgery) are key to the plot and its resolution, but rarely take center stage. The characters are complicated and human, dealing with difficult situations on multiple levels of emotion, religion, science, and politics.

I confess to being put off by the prologue, which features a religious whore being deliberately infected, but the rest of the novel is worth reading even if it didn't make up for the misogynist opening and frequent madonna/whore imagery.

[Bettie · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is hard picking a book for the bedroom isn't it!? Most of my currently-reading items are heavy, and those that are not wrist-breakers have print the intsy-wintsy size and therefore swimming motion of bugs scrabbling over the page.



Judging by the opening, this doesn't look as if it will suit either but one never knows until a toe is dipped...

Opening - "I hijacked a remote to Puebla," said the voice behind the plastic pirate mask, its eye-patch and gold teeth leering from the old-fashioned broadcast monitor.

[Sumiko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this in an airport for a 12 hour trip and it certainly made the time more enjoyable. I liked the juxtaposition of an epidemiologic outbreak investigation and the author's creation of a world where Mexico has eclipsed the US in political power. The author's choice to use a future grammar in the dialogue is distracting (the lead character never uses any form of the verb to be in speaking). In my opinion, only The Moon is a Harsh Mistress has ever successfully used that artifice.

[Kathleen (itpdx) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fifty years in the future--US agriculture has been severely damaged. Mexico, under a religious dictatorship, has taken Central America and most, if not all, of South America and is at war with the US over Texas. A very deadly epidemic has started in Ascencion (formerly Mexico City). An American epidemiologist is brought in under the radar and faces challenges-professional, personal, political and moral as he fights the puzzling virus.

A good thriller.

[Ginette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the best stories I've read in this genre. Although there were times when I felt a little lost in the medical information, I appreciate that Barth Anderson didn't insult my intelligence by over-explaining. There were some interesting twists and turns, and, although a good ending, it wasn't a feel-good ending. There were also some interesting philosophical and political statements.

[Stefan · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The Patron Saint’ was a bit difficult to get into at times and the pace lagged somewhat. But the intelligent and vividly described nature of this dystopia made up for all that. Plus, the main plot (trying to stop a manmade virus) never flagged one bit. The ending was quite satisfying and the socio-political commentary never overpowered the techno thriller elements.

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a near-future thriller about an extremely virulent and extremely deadly dengue. So, cool. It's not great. There's some poor writing: "an angry amount of mascara"? The characterizations are shallow, and the whole things about the verb "to be" was just plain annoying to the reader. But, it's an interesting story, and the author might eventually become really good.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Future Dystopia + Plagues + Mystery = my favorite sort of airplane pulpy read to have when dealing with canceled flights and missed connections. Interesting vision of technological advancements and a weak U.S. in the shadow of a Mexico religious megapower.

[Slynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A futuristic medical thriller. I would actually give this 4 1/2 stars if it were possible. I enjoyed the book and thought the author did a good job of explaining his world. It was a little confusing at the beginning, and a little drug out in places, but overall a very interesting read.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-moving bio-terror thriller about engineered viruses, epidemic containment, religion and politics, well written and tightly plotted. Slightly eerie echo of swine flu, as it is set in Mexico City (or Ascension as the new Mexico refers to its capitol).

[Phair · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a bit of a slog- lots of religio-/politico-babble. Some interesting ideas but the narrative was so hard to follow- much jumping around in time and pov mad it hard for me to "fall into" the story and stay there for long.

[Timothy Neesam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good read, primarily because the main character learns, grows, and sometimes doesn't learn. He's human, makes mistakes, and helps propel the story to an interesting conclusion. A unique take on biowarfare.

[Aramis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent thriller with very vivid imagery. Loved the play on Mexican history/religiosity that's intertwined with the science fiction. Incredible that it's a debut novel (it's that good). Looking forward to future works by the author.

[Scott James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pick this book up, and try to put it down. Anderson's world-ender is darkly compelling. I found myself thinking over and over, "this could happen, why hasn't this happened already."

If you like thrillers, storytelling, or just good-old fashioned fear, this is the book for you.

[Jill Yesko · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to like about a fantasy-ish futuristic eco-thriller set in Mexico? Think "The Hot Zone" with cyborgs. Great descriptions of the biology and physiology of the immune system (the science writer geek in my loves that stuff).

[Sheri Fresonke Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review at www.sfreader.com

[Fred · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun beach read, another virus mystery. Although, the main character’s non-use of verbs and grammar was a little annoying, I found myself editing more than reading.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lost me in the first 30 pages. Sorry I bought it and I will be giving it away as fast as possible.

[Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense and riveting, this would make an interesting movie.