Pandemic

What happens when the fiction finds its place in current affair section? A question worth asking.

Doctor Robin Cook is one of my favourite authors. I am proud to say that I am his fangirl. I have a collection of his books. While I love all books which he has written "Pandemic" is a book about which I would like to write. This book was first published in the year 2018 but just after 2 years from its release we saw how relevant and accurate it was.

As the name indicates "Pandemic" deals with a sudden outbreak of a viral infection. If I have to provide a spoiler free story, then this is what I would say: it is a medical thriller which tells us that the city of New York has had a certain outbreak of a viral infection. People show symptoms which are very similar to the influenza. The difference is that the progression is very quick. The mortality rate is higher than the influenza. The protagonist who is a doctor investigates the cause for this outbreak. He realises a dark truth behind it. Now does the plot summary sound familiar? Does it remind of a specific event that happened in the recent past? Yes, the way we say, "life imitates art" - it sounds true in this case.

I had bought this book immediately after it was a released in the market. I read it in late 2018 or only 2019. When I read this book, I was completely thrilled. I had also been thinking that what if it comes true. I did not have to think a lot because it actually came true within a year.

While we were in 2020, the way the events were unfolding, it felt a lot familiar. I was getting a feeling of deja vu. The reason was that I had already read this in the book "Pandemic". Everything was vaguely familiar. Most of the things were happening just how they were mentioned in the book. The book felt like a foreshadowing. However I wouldn't call it that way. Robin Cook is a practicing doctor who has been working in the medical field for several decades. He must have seen this situation in his career and hence he was able to write about it. The pandemic was first for me in 2020 and that is why I was able to relate it to the book.

Now that the covid pandemic is over and everybody is safe. I suggest the book lovers to take out sometime out of their life and read this book. You will be amazed with the similarities. A lot of things would start making sense now. Even if you do not have a medical or a paramedical degree you would still be able to understand and connect the dots. You will see the possibility that how there could have been deceiving from the end of authorities and pharma companies. You will be able to see that how a lot of things are brushed under the carpet for the sake of reputation.

We may never know that if there is another "pandemic" make being manufactured right now. That is why I would urge you to read this book so that you can be prepared for the future.