The White Plague – Review
When people think of the science fiction author Frank Herbert, they often think of the Dune series. Those are classics, but Herbert wrote other novels as well. One of those is The White Plague.
I had never heard about it but being a fan of the Dune series, I decided to pick it up. I ended up really enjoying it. In fact I thought it was better than some of the Dune novels.
The basic plot revolves around an American scientist who is doing research in Ireland. Tragically, his wife and two children are killed by an IRA bomb right in front of his eyes.
This causes the scientist to have a mental break. He is so filled with rage that decides to take on the ultimate revenge. As a geneticist, he designs a plague that is easily spread and results in the death of any women who contracts it. It is 100% fatal to women.
His plan is to target Ireland for killing his family, Britain for provoking the Irish, and Libya for training the terrorists. He sends letters to media outlets and government leaders to contain the infections to those three countries, an attempt that fails.
The plague spreads across the world, killing millions or more of the women, with just small pockets of women hidden away in protection.
Herbert then takes us on a journey of desperation. Scientists and governments race to find a cure and to protect what has been saved so far. Unfortunately, this includes destroying some cities, nations, and even entire areas of the world.
Reading this post-Covid, I found this book very disturbing and far too realistic. Herbert is able to examine potential human reactions to such a horrible disaster.
Most post-apocalyptic stories share a narrative of humanity at its best or at its worst. The White Plague shares both of these narratives, both of which we saw to a lesser degree during our recent real world pandemic.
This was a fascinating novel that really stretched my mind. If you are looking for a gripping story that will keep you on the edge, this is the one.
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