Review of Pandemic
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Luann Doerzbacher
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- Latest Review: Pandemic by Dieter Gartelmann
Review of Pandemic
[Following is a volunteer review of "Pandemic" by Dieter Gartelmann.]
It’s 2020 and the COVID pandemic is wreaking havoc around the world. In the US, the Trump administration is perpetuating the myth that it is no worse than a cold or the flu. The world watches and waits to see the epidemiological path of the US and whether they should follow. Pandemic by Dieter Gartelmann, tells the story of some of those keeping watch, both nationally and internationally. Half way around the world, in India, Argus E has been tasked by his government to follow the progress, or lack thereof. He befriends a journalist in DC with close ties to the administration. Argus E gets to witness the pandemic through her eyes and those of her extended circle of family and friends. As attempts at containment prove futile, and bungled at every turn, the virus begins to mutate. Adding to the pandemic pandemonium is the civil unrest resulting from the most recent presidential election. False rumors of a stolen election are perpetuated by the exiting administration, creating even more of a challenge to the newly elected President. The journalist gains the trust of the new administration and offers additional insight to Angus E. Public health takes a backseat and scientific evidence is obscured by conspiracy theories. The role of the journalist in reaching out to her public is a key feature to create a return to normalcy. Pandemic does an excellent job of merging fact and fiction with a peek at the potential cost to society. It also justifies the methods of containment that have been proven to work, but were sadly ignored in the early days of the outbreak.
The book is thoroughly documented and footnoted. Attempts to thwart the virus are met with disdain and outright defiance in misplaced loyalty to the exiting party. The makings of a perfect storm to threaten every living soul are soon in place. The clarity, and danger, of the “me,me,me” society shines like an alarming beacon.
The telling of the pandemic story in the US by Gartelmann, an Australian IT specialist, is an exemplary example of fact and fiction. The use of colloquialisms and dialect found in Australia has the effect of creating some awkward dialogue. For example, in referring to zip code regions, he uses the term post codes. Certainly not a reason to put the book down, but it does present some head scratching moments. Mothers are referred to as Mummy, laughter is described as being like a hoon, bugga me stupid, stonkered, sticky beaks, and fuckwit are all colorful, but hardly part of the US patois.
I rate this book 2 out of 4. It was well edited for errors and references are documented appropriately. The story could have been as effective without some of the ancillary characters. The final chapters broke with the reality and veracity of the previous chapters and made for an ending that was difficult to take seriously and almost comical in nature.
Pandemic How Deadly Will It Get by Dieter Gartelmann is a factual work of fiction. The scenario played out in the book is frightening and certainly demonstrates how close the world could have been to egregious fatalities. It offers a warning to the world of the dangers in dealing with a self centered populace not wanting to be inconvenienced by the potential of mass annihilation at the hands of an ill informed, narcissistic leader. For anyone still not believing the gravity of the pandemic, and the potential for mass destruction, this book is a must read.
******
Pandemic
View: on Bookshelves
It’s 2020 and the COVID pandemic is wreaking havoc around the world. In the US, the Trump administration is perpetuating the myth that it is no worse than a cold or the flu. The world watches and waits to see the epidemiological path of the US and whether they should follow. Pandemic by Dieter Gartelmann, tells the story of some of those keeping watch, both nationally and internationally. Half way around the world, in India, Argus E has been tasked by his government to follow the progress, or lack thereof. He befriends a journalist in DC with close ties to the administration. Argus E gets to witness the pandemic through her eyes and those of her extended circle of family and friends. As attempts at containment prove futile, and bungled at every turn, the virus begins to mutate. Adding to the pandemic pandemonium is the civil unrest resulting from the most recent presidential election. False rumors of a stolen election are perpetuated by the exiting administration, creating even more of a challenge to the newly elected President. The journalist gains the trust of the new administration and offers additional insight to Angus E. Public health takes a backseat and scientific evidence is obscured by conspiracy theories. The role of the journalist in reaching out to her public is a key feature to create a return to normalcy. Pandemic does an excellent job of merging fact and fiction with a peek at the potential cost to society. It also justifies the methods of containment that have been proven to work, but were sadly ignored in the early days of the outbreak.
The book is thoroughly documented and footnoted. Attempts to thwart the virus are met with disdain and outright defiance in misplaced loyalty to the exiting party. The makings of a perfect storm to threaten every living soul are soon in place. The clarity, and danger, of the “me,me,me” society shines like an alarming beacon.
The telling of the pandemic story in the US by Gartelmann, an Australian IT specialist, is an exemplary example of fact and fiction. The use of colloquialisms and dialect found in Australia has the effect of creating some awkward dialogue. For example, in referring to zip code regions, he uses the term post codes. Certainly not a reason to put the book down, but it does present some head scratching moments. Mothers are referred to as Mummy, laughter is described as being like a hoon, bugga me stupid, stonkered, sticky beaks, and fuckwit are all colorful, but hardly part of the US patois.
I rate this book 2 out of 4. It was well edited for errors and references are documented appropriately. The story could have been as effective without some of the ancillary characters. The final chapters broke with the reality and veracity of the previous chapters and made for an ending that was difficult to take seriously and almost comical in nature.
Pandemic How Deadly Will It Get by Dieter Gartelmann is a factual work of fiction. The scenario played out in the book is frightening and certainly demonstrates how close the world could have been to egregious fatalities. It offers a warning to the world of the dangers in dealing with a self centered populace not wanting to be inconvenienced by the potential of mass annihilation at the hands of an ill informed, narcissistic leader. For anyone still not believing the gravity of the pandemic, and the potential for mass destruction, this book is a must read.
******
Pandemic
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: Pandemic by Dieter Gartelmann
