The Genius Plague by David Walton
A science-fiction novel about a young man who gets lost in the woods, reemerging with a
nearly fatal virus only to survive with enhanced human abilities, pitted against his brother,
the main protagonist, who believes and understand that the “genius” virus is in reality
harmful, The Genius Plague by David Walton, is a well-written novel which involves multiple
stages of conflict, including brother vs. brother but also humanity against each other.
The introduction to the plot, I felt, was a bit slow, but after the brother, Paul, returned from
the woods, the book began to truly kick into action. Conspiracy upon conspiracy began to
unfold, and although this is something often cliched in most thriller novels, this one was
written with less dramatization and more focus on the plot, which made it more enticing.
Aside from the superficial fungus which is said to ‘control’ the people’s minds, Walton also
explores the idea of humanity and logic in the novel. Although the infected are very logical
and calculating due to enhanced ability and precision, there are still times when they show
delusion and emotion, as if their human side is always present, just being shadowed by a
demon. The book goes to demonstrate that simply being logical does not qualify one as a
human, it is one’s emotions and actions that truly make them shine.
Although the conclusion was not written in complete finality, this is likely making room for a
potential sequel. In general, the novel draws you in, albeit slowly in the beginning, but then
picks up pace and focuses through the point of view of a non-infected person who has to
take control while witnessing his close family member deal with the parasitic control.
I would greatly recommend it as a read!
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