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Bat out of Hell
From the jungles of Indonesia to the very heart of New York City comes a plague that kills 100 percent of its victims. Medicine’s greatest nightmare, this modern black death is caused by the most virulent and uncontrollable mutant virus humanity has ever witnessed. And medicine can do nothing to stop its merciless spread.
Scientist Debra Hart and her team of experts are tasked by the United Nations to stop the disease. Racing against time, they must find the cause and the cure and figure out why this deadly disease—spread by bats—is killing thousands in cities across the globe. Debra and her team will struggle to stop the disease from spreading to millions more, even if it means killing off every bat alive. But fighting to prevent her are manic animal rights’ activists who rail against species genocide, even if it means risking the deaths of human beings. And hidden behind a cloak of secrecy is a crazed academic who’ll even kill top American government officials to save one living creature.
This is the nightmare scenario that Debra faces as the public becomes so terrified of bats that entire communities become vigilantes.
Scientist Debra Hart and her team of experts are tasked by the United Nations to stop the disease. Racing against time, they must find the cause and the cure and figure out why this deadly disease—spread by bats—is killing thousands in cities across the globe. Debra and her team will struggle to stop the disease from spreading to millions more, even if it means killing off every bat alive. But fighting to prevent her are manic animal rights’ activists who rail against species genocide, even if it means risking the deaths of human beings. And hidden behind a cloak of secrecy is a crazed academic who’ll even kill top American government officials to save one living creature.
This is the nightmare scenario that Debra faces as the public becomes so terrified of bats that entire communities become vigilantes.
284 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
About the author
Alan Gold
58 books45 followersAlan Gold began his career as a journalist, working in the UK, Europe, and Israel. In 1970, he emigrated to Australia with his wife, Eva, and now lives in St. Ives, Sydney, where he divides his time between writing novels and running his award-winning marketing consultancy.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 2, 2015
First reviewed at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/10/01/b...
Bat out of Hell was pretty scary, though not in the way I expected. Going in, I don’t know what exactly I was hoping for. An apocalyptic-type thriller novel, perhaps? Or a science fiction with a horror spin?
The story ended up being neither of those. I attribute my first impressions to the somewhat misleading book description, which I think overplays the urgency of the premise. I expected a nightmare scenario in which humanity was dying by the millions to a new Black Death. In truth, the book isn’t so much about the plague than the social and political games that surround it. It’s also not really a sci-fi or techno-thriller in the vein of Michael Crichton or Douglas Preston. Even though the tagline says “Eco-Thriller”, I wouldn’t say suspense and excitement are the book’s main elements.
Oh but there are plenty of cool things about it, all right. Like I said, the premise is pretty frightening. All around the world, outbreaks of infectious diseases are happening all at once, and not just in third world countries or rural areas either. London gets hit. Then a built up neighborhood in New Jersey. The UN quickly puts together a first-response team and dispatches them all around the world to find out what’s going on. The diseases have to be spreading through a vector, and scientists narrow it down to bats. (Or birds. A stunning amount of time is actually spent by characters in the book hotly debating whether or not it’s one or the other.) The point is though, infectious diseases are scary as hell, and they make great topics for Horror/Thriller novels. That’s the reason I was originally drawn to Bat Out of Hell and why I wanted to read it.
Of course, there were also parts of the story that just didn’t work for me. But that doesn’t mean they won’t work for you. Truth be told, I find books like this very hard to review, because its style and structure (and genre, arguably) don’t mesh too well with my own reading preferences. That’s not the book’s fault, obviously. For this reason, I’m going to leave my rating off for the blog.
Essentially, I enjoyed the overall premise of the story. It’s smart, it’s entertaining, and the subject matter is fascinating. However, there are several things I felt could have been changed in order to make it a better and more exciting read. First of all, I wish there had been a lot more focus on the diseases themselves. The story didn’t cover too many outbreaks to begin with, and every time we saw one, only a few pages were devoted to the entire cycle of infection, immediate deaths (inevitably the scenarios all involved children), and eventual fallout. And then without skipping a beat, we are right back to the politicians and the special interest groups shamelessly spinning the situation.
Hence, my second observation: from politicians to leading scientists, animal rights activists to celebrities – everyone seems to get their chance to weigh in on the worldwide health crisis. Everyone except the ones who are the most affected. Where are the victims’ voices? The family and friends of the dead? Seems like a gross oversight to exclude their perspectives and influence on the global discourse.
Thirdly, I thought the narrative greatly oversimplified certain elements of the story. For example, birds are lovely and cute. So the idea of killing them en masse to prevent them from transmitting deadly diseases to humans would be met with outrage and resistance, to the joyful glee of the activists behind Citizens for Humane Animal Treatment. Bats, on the other hand, are icky. So if it turns out they’re the culprits, no one cares. There’s also the disturbing implication that most people will blindly follow the random claims of pop stars and Hollywood actors over the word of scientific experts who actually know what they’re talking about. Maybe a some people, but I think most folks tend to trust the epidemiologist with the PHD over some aging metalhead, no matter how famous they are — especially when it comes to matters of health. Speaking of which, where’s the internet and social media? Something like this should have had millions talking about it, but once again we’re only getting the perspectives of the elite, the world leaders and the CEOs and the celebrities who treat the population like lemmings — point in the direction you want them to go and they will follow – but reality just isn’t like that.
In the end, I think what I wanted was a more intense and more personal story. Still, I thought the book was interesting and devoured it quickly because I really wanted to find out what happens. Something tells me Bat Out of Hell might be somewhat of an esoteric novel, and certainly if you have an interest in stories about outbreaks and infectious diseases, it’d definitley be worth giving this book a shot.
Bat out of Hell was pretty scary, though not in the way I expected. Going in, I don’t know what exactly I was hoping for. An apocalyptic-type thriller novel, perhaps? Or a science fiction with a horror spin?
The story ended up being neither of those. I attribute my first impressions to the somewhat misleading book description, which I think overplays the urgency of the premise. I expected a nightmare scenario in which humanity was dying by the millions to a new Black Death. In truth, the book isn’t so much about the plague than the social and political games that surround it. It’s also not really a sci-fi or techno-thriller in the vein of Michael Crichton or Douglas Preston. Even though the tagline says “Eco-Thriller”, I wouldn’t say suspense and excitement are the book’s main elements.
Oh but there are plenty of cool things about it, all right. Like I said, the premise is pretty frightening. All around the world, outbreaks of infectious diseases are happening all at once, and not just in third world countries or rural areas either. London gets hit. Then a built up neighborhood in New Jersey. The UN quickly puts together a first-response team and dispatches them all around the world to find out what’s going on. The diseases have to be spreading through a vector, and scientists narrow it down to bats. (Or birds. A stunning amount of time is actually spent by characters in the book hotly debating whether or not it’s one or the other.) The point is though, infectious diseases are scary as hell, and they make great topics for Horror/Thriller novels. That’s the reason I was originally drawn to Bat Out of Hell and why I wanted to read it.
Of course, there were also parts of the story that just didn’t work for me. But that doesn’t mean they won’t work for you. Truth be told, I find books like this very hard to review, because its style and structure (and genre, arguably) don’t mesh too well with my own reading preferences. That’s not the book’s fault, obviously. For this reason, I’m going to leave my rating off for the blog.
Essentially, I enjoyed the overall premise of the story. It’s smart, it’s entertaining, and the subject matter is fascinating. However, there are several things I felt could have been changed in order to make it a better and more exciting read. First of all, I wish there had been a lot more focus on the diseases themselves. The story didn’t cover too many outbreaks to begin with, and every time we saw one, only a few pages were devoted to the entire cycle of infection, immediate deaths (inevitably the scenarios all involved children), and eventual fallout. And then without skipping a beat, we are right back to the politicians and the special interest groups shamelessly spinning the situation.
Hence, my second observation: from politicians to leading scientists, animal rights activists to celebrities – everyone seems to get their chance to weigh in on the worldwide health crisis. Everyone except the ones who are the most affected. Where are the victims’ voices? The family and friends of the dead? Seems like a gross oversight to exclude their perspectives and influence on the global discourse.
Thirdly, I thought the narrative greatly oversimplified certain elements of the story. For example, birds are lovely and cute. So the idea of killing them en masse to prevent them from transmitting deadly diseases to humans would be met with outrage and resistance, to the joyful glee of the activists behind Citizens for Humane Animal Treatment. Bats, on the other hand, are icky. So if it turns out they’re the culprits, no one cares. There’s also the disturbing implication that most people will blindly follow the random claims of pop stars and Hollywood actors over the word of scientific experts who actually know what they’re talking about. Maybe a some people, but I think most folks tend to trust the epidemiologist with the PHD over some aging metalhead, no matter how famous they are — especially when it comes to matters of health. Speaking of which, where’s the internet and social media? Something like this should have had millions talking about it, but once again we’re only getting the perspectives of the elite, the world leaders and the CEOs and the celebrities who treat the population like lemmings — point in the direction you want them to go and they will follow – but reality just isn’t like that.
In the end, I think what I wanted was a more intense and more personal story. Still, I thought the book was interesting and devoured it quickly because I really wanted to find out what happens. Something tells me Bat Out of Hell might be somewhat of an esoteric novel, and certainly if you have an interest in stories about outbreaks and infectious diseases, it’d definitley be worth giving this book a shot.
December 27, 2020
An eco thriller with a intense viruses that kills 100 % of it's victims, sounds rather exciting and a start to a very suspensfull novel however it wasn't quite as exciting and suspenseful as I had hoped, but it was an okay read
January 3, 2021
Most of the science was questionable (example: someone asks ‘why would a BIOLOGIST be at a VIROLOGY conference?!?!)... & there was too much focus on how the main character (who was in line to be head of the CDC) really just wanted to find love. BUT it was a good listen overall, fast paced & def kept me interested.
April 17, 2020
Batty BioTerrorism
I liked some parts of this book but felt the discussions of Debra’s attraction to the President were awkward and did not fit smoothly into the book. The bioterrorist professor was interesting and I liked the discussion of getting him to confess. I only gave this a four star rating because why does every story about a brilliant, talented woman have to include a love interest. Also many times in this book the author left me hanging like following up on the bomber.
I liked some parts of this book but felt the discussions of Debra’s attraction to the President were awkward and did not fit smoothly into the book. The bioterrorist professor was interesting and I liked the discussion of getting him to confess. I only gave this a four star rating because why does every story about a brilliant, talented woman have to include a love interest. Also many times in this book the author left me hanging like following up on the bomber.
December 1, 2015
Wow - simply wow. I loved this book. When I read the blurb of BAT OUT OF HELL being an Eco-Thriller, I wasn't sure what I was going to get - something that would lead to an extension level event, something that would morph into a walking-dead like survival horror? BAT OUT OF HELL could've turned into anything and I'm sure, author Alan Gold would've done a great job irrespective f the plot direction.
From the blistering opening stanza of death, decay and mystery I was hooked. And then the tact turn different - the narrative pulled and pushed into new directions that weren't at all what I had expected - in a good way.
BAT OUT OF HELL follows the unconventional path of politics, human activists, Hollywood, and vigilantes to drive a plot centered around a colony of bats responsible for spreading a seemingly incurable disease across the world (in this instance, the spread is more isolated to contained pockets rather than all out black death). Sounds a little too real doesn't it? Which is what makes this book so plausible and more menacing.
The writing is crisp and the dialogue captures the uniqueness of each character - be it the President of the United States in Nat Thomas or scientist Debra Hart (the two lead characters). Not to mention, that ending - one of the best I've had the pleasure of reading.
http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
From the blistering opening stanza of death, decay and mystery I was hooked. And then the tact turn different - the narrative pulled and pushed into new directions that weren't at all what I had expected - in a good way.
BAT OUT OF HELL follows the unconventional path of politics, human activists, Hollywood, and vigilantes to drive a plot centered around a colony of bats responsible for spreading a seemingly incurable disease across the world (in this instance, the spread is more isolated to contained pockets rather than all out black death). Sounds a little too real doesn't it? Which is what makes this book so plausible and more menacing.
The writing is crisp and the dialogue captures the uniqueness of each character - be it the President of the United States in Nat Thomas or scientist Debra Hart (the two lead characters). Not to mention, that ending - one of the best I've had the pleasure of reading.
http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
Read
February 11, 2016I'm afraid I didn't bother reading further than the very first paragraph. In it, Gold waxed poetic about how astronaut, John Glenn, "...left the embrace of Earth and stepped onto the surface of another world...". Well, one doesn't have to be a NASA nerd to know that John Glenn never stepped on any world other than this one. Ignorance, sloppiness or plain unprofessionalism? Take your pick. And the blame doesn't stop at the author. Why didn't the editor pick it up? Or a proofreader? Anybody?! Such a howler in a book of this kind completely destroys the trust one must invest in the author - to get the science right. Otherwise the book becomes just another fantasy novel and any resolution might as well depend on spells rather than science.
January 31, 2023
This review is based on the Audible Audio book
This was very much not what I was expecting. I have read other books about viral outbreaks and was expecting a tension filled thriller that followed the scientist as they struggled to track down the source of the virus and develop a cure before things get to out of control. Coupled with this the struggles of the populace as the virus takes hold, and civilisation start to unravel. What I got (at least for the third I struggled through) was a story that jumped around and lacked credibility. Actions happen seemingly without consequence, baseless stories 'reported' by pop stars and actors carry more weight than statements by informed people. rumour rules the day with no one interested in facts.
The lead character, is not portrayed in a way anyone can really like, she comes across as both arrogant and a fantasist and is not someone I could warm to or for that matter care what happens to them.
This was my first Alan Gold novel and think it is certainly going to be my last. The narrator was OK but some of the accents used didn't really enhance the story.
This was very much not what I was expecting. I have read other books about viral outbreaks and was expecting a tension filled thriller that followed the scientist as they struggled to track down the source of the virus and develop a cure before things get to out of control. Coupled with this the struggles of the populace as the virus takes hold, and civilisation start to unravel. What I got (at least for the third I struggled through) was a story that jumped around and lacked credibility. Actions happen seemingly without consequence, baseless stories 'reported' by pop stars and actors carry more weight than statements by informed people. rumour rules the day with no one interested in facts.
The lead character, is not portrayed in a way anyone can really like, she comes across as both arrogant and a fantasist and is not someone I could warm to or for that matter care what happens to them.
This was my first Alan Gold novel and think it is certainly going to be my last. The narrator was OK but some of the accents used didn't really enhance the story.
April 27, 2021
What could have been a mundane and silly topic turned out to be fairly interesting for me. Bats! Everything you ever wanted to know about bats. Well, maybe not everything but it did touch on their feeding, flight paths, mating, and inherent diseases. The tale is primarily about diseases. A particular virus that was quite deadly and had the potential to become a pandemic. Our protagonist Debra Hart is a virologist tasked with the crucial mission of finding the cause and stopping the spread of deaths induced by the mutated virus. I imagine you can guess the vector but perhaps not the cause. I can’t say too much, it would ruin the discovery in the story. There is some politicking, some corruption, a wee bit of romance, and a generous portion of greenspeak. As I said, I found it interesting, the characters likable, and realistic.
October 9, 2022
Interesting idea. Bats are definitely possible of carrying disease and transmitting it to humans, but so are so many other animals. I'm a bit conflicted, there were some very interesting and well thought out reactions, yet so many things that were not believable. It also seemed to push the idea that a high ranking female couldn't work with men without considering them as romantic partners. So wrong.
December 15, 2020
This was a very good book. The only issue I had was the attraction between the President and the main character, but other than that the story was very good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2022
It was okay.
January 29, 2016
Somewhat bemused by the author's approach to the story (the caricutures in plot and charachters), i read the back flap to discover the author is a columnist for The Australian (a very sensible, serious newspaper). I continued my read assuming the book was a satire. The storyline about the ecological groups' PR approach to, and manipulation of the media was something to think about. However, the scenes 3/4 of the way through where the brilliant (female) communicable diseases specialist, head of the special task force to manage these outbreaks, was completely focused on whether the president of the US was going to try to boff her or not, lost me. Was Mr Gold trying to say something about women in senior jobs? It went on for pages. I just don't know, it was perculiar.
I did enjoy descriptions of the political gaming between the US personnel and the UN based force. All too true, as far as i'm concerned.
I did enjoy descriptions of the political gaming between the US personnel and the UN based force. All too true, as far as i'm concerned.
November 2, 2016
What is making people sick, to the point of death? While other countries are fighting the battle, the United States is in fear of what may come and prepares using head strong science and a super out of the box president, that I wish was running for election. On the other side of the coin lives the animal rights groups, while there is a place and need for their work, some have taken the protection of animals a bit too far.
Good read, makes you think about all the hows and why of plague issues and the what if of today. Nice tie in of all things from science, politics, love and small thriller. The ending got me... there will be another story to tell.
Good read, makes you think about all the hows and why of plague issues and the what if of today. Nice tie in of all things from science, politics, love and small thriller. The ending got me... there will be another story to tell.
December 17, 2015
Quite entertaining, but not to be taken too seriously - sort of Michael Crichton meets Ben Elton, but not as funny, with a touch of Mills and Boon. When you have a Republican US president with a Ph.D. in science you know you are reading a fantasy novel! Some of the characters are more like caricatures and Pollard and Chalmers are like something from a Fox News wet dream. Despite all this, it does deal with some serious issues like habitat destruction and viral evolution, but that gets a bit lost in the general story. If you can get past the stereotypes, it's not a bad read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews