Feed: The Newsflesh Trilogy, Book 1

"This is a whole series of books by one of the most popular writers in science fiction and fantasy working today. When the first book came out, I devoured it. The premise is that we’re in a near-future United States where two man-made viruses (the first a cure for the common cold, the second a cure for cancer), have combined to create a new virus that can spontaneously turn people into a version of the classic zombie that we know from apocalypse movies. The two main characters, a brother and sister, are part of a news team in a world in which people are very, very hesitant to come into contact. They’re reporting on a presidential campaign in which there is corruption and manipulation at the highest level, not least concerning the virus. It’s a very good and very vivid page-turner. The science fictional premise is exceptionally well-rendered, and so is the worldbuilding around living in a time when contact is dangerous. In the world of Newsflesh , precautions are extreme, and every time you venture outdoors you must do a blood test when you return, shower in bleach and so forth. Communication is almost entirely virtual. Support Five Books Five Books interviews are expensive to produce. If you're enjoying this interview, please support us by donating a small amount . The intersection between the media, politics and contemporary society is definitely in the author’s crosshairs. We could say that about all of these books: in any situation of epidemic, we have to really pay attention to how we get our news. The quality of the information we’re getting affects our lives in a much more immediate way than it would normally; it becomes a matter of life or death."