Podcast #4 Pandemics & Conspiracies in SF & Horror
https://anchor.fm/alchemyofgenres/episodes/Pandemics--Conspiracies-in-SF--Horror-een9f0
Given the circumstances of life right now, it is sometimes fun to explore fictional pandemics (to compare and contrast). I also thought it
would be fun to read some books that explore conspiracies from either government or corporations because that is also in the news right now.
To clarify, I am not really listing any dystopian novels. I know that many love the genre; but for me, I prefer either survival or post apocalyptic novels; because, for me, those seem to have more hope and dystopias seem to be so hopeless. Not dissing dystopic novels, just not my thing.
SF & Horror novelists LOVE a good conspiracy book, so do "classic" authors that garner all the press from scholars. I am avoiding all classics, as I think these will be more fun to read, but by all means, enjoy reading a good classic if you prefer.
Please not: Some of these titles are old, and you may have to work a bit to be able to read them....when libraries reopen, and you can start requesting books again, check out that option; or go online to used book stores and see what you can find that way as well. Mira Grant (aka Seanan McGuire); writes some of the BEST zombie apocalypse books. Feed is my all time fav. Why? Because it's not just a zombie book, it's an examination of viral protocols, the atmosphere of fear that accompanies a global pandemic and those who profit from it. It's about power; political and monetary power garnered from focusing attention where you want it from the public. It's about the media, all access vs "need to know"; but it's also about blogger culture and possible future tech in a time when everyone does everything from home. This series is so layered, and each of the initial 3 were so good that she wrote some extra ones in the series to expand on minor characters or just further explore the universe. As you can see, this is both about a pandemic and governmental/corporate conspiracies.
Basic story: Once upon a time, science found the cure for the common cold AND the cure for cancer; unfortunately these anti-viral creations have now infected every living thing on the planet and force the dead to try to eat & infect the living. Because it's in EVERYTHING, people are hyper aware of keeping their viral count low; and also can't eat meat (because brings up your viral count); even owning a large dog is dangerous (anything over 40 lbs can go zombie after death). The main characters of the novel run a blog hub; including a "newsie" (factual editorial journalism stories), a "fictional" (all poetry/stories of a fictional type) and an "Irwin" (person who films themselves poking dead things and running away; or otherwise diving headfirst into danger for the vicarious thrill of the viewer). The newsie, Georgia, is the main voice. They are given a chance to follow a front runner of the Presidential campaign and given unprecedented access to him. Unfortunately, they find sabotage everywhere they turn. Someone really doesn't want this man to win.....or these bloggers to report. Can they figure out how far this conspiracy goes?
In this trilogy, Mira Grant explores a different kind of conspiracy/pandemic....one that is created by drug companies. A magic pill has been created that is touted to keep you alive and help you heal traumatic brain & spinal injuries. It has worked so well that millions of people have used it. Our main character used it in the initial run, and survived what should have been a fatal accident. She has no memories of her life before the 'magic pill" kicked in; so she had to relearn walking, talking, etc as well as rebuild all her personal relationships (or attempt to anyway).
She is the poster child for the pill, their ultimate success story. But something is off, she knows it....and there is a mysterious ailment causing people to eat other people indiscriminately.....Can she figure out what is in the pill? The more she learns, the more of a target she becomes.
The beginning half of the book delves into an overview of lives before and during the flu, how they get it, who dies, how they survive. The second half of the book dives right into good vs evil as all survivors either see "the dark man" and go to Vegas or "the old woman" and go to Colorado. King explores all the gradiations of what is good, what is evil and how would that play out in the world after a giant pandemic? I really love this book and it is definitely work a read or a listen.
Back to zombies...because why not? If you haven't read The Walking Dead, you really should. Kirkman does a bangup job of building characters and stories that truly affect you. I never did watch the tv series, but enjoyed the graphic novels (though I do need to finish reading the series now that it's drawing to a close).
Resident Evil is one of those lasting legacy zombie tales. Started a s creepy video game, then became movies, then books (based on the movies and also expanding the universe) and now manga. One of the smartest things that the creators & writers have done is to use the basic universe collectively but use each medium to tell different individual stories.For instance, the video games DO have various plot lines but really, they are puzzle games. The movies took the idea, made up a new character and used her to tell the stories they wanted to tell. Some of the books, do the same, pick a new location and a few new protagonists and slip in a few well known characters for a cameo....voila!
The manga is essentially the same, set in a distant location in Japan, in a school where the students & faculty have to survive.
The basic idea of the Resident Evil Universe (for those who are unfamiliar) is that Umbrella Corporation runs a lot of the world and secretly they run even more. They create a genetic mutation that results in zombies and continue to strive through more and more coverups & genetic mutations to eliminate the virus and also any knowledge of their culpability in its existence. So, this is another story/universe where the conspiracy is an essential component to the disease....because they wouldn't have a disease if they hadn't weaponized the virus (created to help eliminate genetic diseases)....and once it got out & Umbrella started doing more to coverup, it just keeps getting worse.
I do love these books/movies/games (though I can't play them at all, I did spend a huge amount of time watching others play them.
Knife of Never Letting Go another conspiracy mixed with pandemic novel (actually a trilogy). It's a YA book, but don't let that stop you from reading a fantastic book, trust me!In the Noise Germ Plague, all the males get telepathy and all the women died. That is the life Todd knows and those are the facts he has been told. Then he finds an accident and one of the survivors is a girl.....she shouldn't exist, but does.
This book has moments of humor, and also moments of incredible suspense. Definitely worth checking out
Last up for our pandemic books is Y: The Last Man. In this plague all males of every species have died, except for Yorick and his male capuchin monkey. The book centers on Yorick's adventures and traumas in this new world as he struggles to come to terms with it, and figure out how this happened and everyone tries to figure out how life will go on from here.
Rumor has it this is in development for a tv/streaming series....I hope it's true and that it's well done.
Such a tense and interesting novel, I read it a long time ago but it has stuck with me.....may have to read it again just because.
Firestarter (another one for the cheesey movie category); starts with Andrew meeting his wife at a weird experiment in college that they all agree to do. No one knows what was in the cocktail of stuff they were given, but after Andrew has a daughter, Charlie, his family starts being watched closely. Charlie can start fires with her mind, and is VERY strongly talented. The Shop; who is the secret governmental agency that started everything, decides that Charlie should be trained and contained and the chase is on.
The book was amazing and truly frightening (King is very good at depicting how devious and ruthless "good ole Americans" can be under the auspices of government oversight & control.
For Love of Mother Not was my first book from Alan Dean Foster, and thus began a love affair for many years with his books. This also continues a theme of children experimented on and genetic mutations as well as government conspiracies to cover up and/or control all subjects. Pip doesn't remember much of his childhood before he is purchased (sort of like a foster child care system, not like a slave....but.....yeah, still weird). His "not mother" is ruthless and crotchety but caring in her own way and encourages Pip to be self sufficient. When she realizes he has powers (very powerful mental gifts), she encourages his silence for his own good. When she dies, Pip is left alone with his only companion a flying poisonous (but empathic) flying snake; and he is determined to figure out who killed her and why; thus opening the lid on a giant intergalactic can of worms.
I love this series and have loved watching Pip & Flinx grow and develop over many years. You should definitely check this book out.
Illuminae trilogy has two books that run parallel, with a third to tie them both together. The conspiracy this time is about money and power from a corporation. They have decided to "disappear" an entire population from a mining colony, but some escaped and now are pursued with extreme lethality (because if they escape, they can prove it happened). The books are all told as if they are reports and documents secretly gathered and are VERY suspenseful. I cannot believe no one has grabbed these for a tv/movie series.....yes, they are YA, but really....read them. Killer plagues, psychotic computers, corporate greed.....it's got it all.
This was a terrible movie but an EXCELLENT book (and audio book!). The conspiracy is sort of a mix with gov't and corporate but essentially everyone who isn't in the 1% is having a very rough life, so they live mostly virtually....and the creator of the virtual world everyone uses has died and left control of his empire as an easter egg in his virtual universe, somewhere. As a few individuals try to figure out the puzzles, they are increasingly competing with ruthless corporations determined that they will own this multi-billion dollar company.
Really suspenseful, with lots of 80's references and levels of play (like a video game); make this a very, very good read.
Slipt is very old book (early 90s?) but only feels that way in the tech, not in the story. Jake Pickett is an elderly man who has grown up next to a toxic waste dump, and is comfortable knowing someday he will die there. He has a comfortable and simple life. One day a secret massive cleanup of the site happens, and the company that has been dumping there for years is determined to relocate all residents far away, so a pending investigation will go their way (after all, if no one is there who remembers the dump, then it never happened). Jake doesn't want to go. He also invites extra interest when he "slipts" a bottle top for the nice man who is offering him a package to sell his house and move. What no one knows is that in addition to his mild telekinetic abilities he keeps in telepathic communication with his grand-niece across the country. She figures out that something is up and tells him to run to her, she will help him (she is a very smart & savvy 13 year old); and as the ruthlessness of the company chasing him increases, so does his use of his powers.......and they are growing exponentially.
This cat and mouse game is really really well done and one of my favorite books.
The movie for this came out relatively recently, but I still prefer the book. Ender is a brilliant young man determined to leave his mark in the military academy he is a part of; and when they play war games, he has no equal. What those running the academy and the games aren't prepared for is exactly how smart Ender is, or what he'll do to find answers to questions they don't want to reveal.
Last one, and back to King & government/commercial conspiracies. This time, the government has given up on social help of any kind, instead farming out all the desperate poor into commercial "games", which result in rewards for a very few but entertainment for many. Ben Richards enters the Running Man competition expecting to die but hoping to leave a good amount of money in the coffers for his family to survive with and for his very sick wife to get help. Ben's determination to play the game his way is working; but how long can he run for?
Another cheese-fest of a movie (but awesome!), but a good (if a bit sad/scary) book. Set in early 90s, so be prepared for tech differences.
That's it. hope you enjoyed this list, listen to the podcast......post some feedback or suggest new lists if you like.
Saleena
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