White Plague

by Frank Herbert

Book Overview

From Science fiction grandmaster Frank Herbert, creator of the Dune universe, comes this novel of bioterrorism and gendercide.

What if women were an endangered species?

It begins in Ireland, but soon spreads throughout the entire world: a virulent new disease expressly designed to target only women. As fully half of the human race dies off at a frightening pace and life on Earth faces extinction, panicked people and...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399127216
• ISBN13: 9780399127212
• Release Date: September 1982
• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Length: 445 Pages
• Weight: 1.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 9.7" x 6.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Very Readable

I read the first 5 reviews before writing this. I read this book quite some time ago and thought it was great. I waded through the original "Dune" and thought that this book was much more readable. I read all the criticism written about this book and I will tell you this. I leant this book to 5 different people and each of them read it straight through and could hardly put it down (myself included). Now I ask you, does that sound like an over rated book or a good book. I thought the book was very literary with one of the main characters being a catholic priest. The story is set in Ireland and has a strong Irish flavor. I have read a number of books by this author, I thought this story was one of his best!

Many think this his best

It is tremendously frightening that this might someday soon become a book for our times. A molecular biologist watches from a building window as his wife and two daughters get blown to bits during a terrorist bombing on the street below. This triggers a vengeful madness that culminates in his developing a disease and infecting those he sees as responsible: The countries of Ireland, Libya, and England.I have met many Frank Herbert fans online, especially on usenet. There is some argument as to what is Herbert's greatest work. Many who have never read the White Plague insist that nothing could top Dune. Many who have read Dune insist that The White Plague is his crowning achievement.I leave it to you to decide.

Excellent Fiction novel from Herbert...NOT SCI-FI!

Once again, Frank Herbert dives into humanity full force and thrusts the reader into a twisted surrealism that makes you unable to put down the book and continue turning the pages. This is a dark book with a twist on genetics. It is truly amazing to read this book and realize how long ago Mr. Herbert wrote it! Anyway, the book focuses on the life of a tormented scientist after he witnesses the death of his family in a bombing. His goal: to destroy humanity since he has no faith in humanity himself anymore. An age old story right...WRONG! It is the method in which this man decides to bring humanity to its knees that is so compelling. Try a little Frank Herbert without the Sci-Fi... you might like it! I know I did!

A chilling story of loss and revenge gone amuck

Herbert weaves a wonderfully chilling tale of loss and revenge in this biotech centered sci-fi offering.In the book, the main character (a molecular biologist) loses his wife to a random terrorist bombing in Ireland. Fed up with the endless violence and loss of innocent life due to chronic IRA-British conflicts in Ireland, the scientist uses methods of genetic engineering to develop a virus that he plans to release in Ireland. He sends notice to the world of his intentions, and releases the virus.The virus kills only women. Ireland is devastated, but, of course, the virus escapes and the white plague becomes a pandemic. The technology certainly exists to develop genetically engineered viral vectors (i.e., viruses that carry genetically engineered DNA or RNA). Is such a plague possible? Technically, yes. That's what makes the tale so chilling. The spread of the disease in the book and efforts to protect uninfected women are described as effort after effort to stop the virus fail. This is great summer time reading for anyone who enjoys techno-sci-fi books. The story line is convincing, the scientific premises of the book are within the reach of feasibility, and the potential consequences of such an act are mind boggling.Please re-issue this book. There are certainly people out there who would enjoy it.5 stars!Alan Holyoak

The best non-Dune novel by Frank Herbert.

Herbert crafts the finest social science fiction I've ever read. What makes this book excellent is the way you see events from all sides. Herbert handles complex characters and situations masterfuly. From the IRA terrorist to the biological terrorist, the villain and the hero exist in everyone at the right time under the right circumstances. To anyone who thinks this is just a macho melee, I would point out the power and reverence women gain from the outcome, as if these were possibly the first Reverend Mothers of the Bene Gesserit (my own leap--this book is completely apart from the Dune books aside from the great craftsmanship of the author.) Readers should also try the Dune books, Whipping Star, The Dosadi Experiment, and Man of Two Worlds. Any Herbert book is a good one, but those are some of his finest work.