The Satan Bug (1962)

I have recently been reading a novel taken right from the library of top ten nightmares facing us today. One of the free world's worst fears is that some lunatic will get their hands on a super germ and unleash it upon us. In a world where anthrax and sarin have become household names, the niggling concern that some fanatical genius will create a bug even more powerful, deadly, and impossible to detect lives deep within each of us.

This book is about a man-made virus that is highly contagious, fatal if swallowed or breathed, and has no vaccine. On top of that, this virus is impossible to kill. Now, in the book, the premise is that the good guys accidentally created this virus (how does one accidentally create such a thing, I wonder?) and, upon discovering what they had, stored it away in a super-secret, super-secure facility and began working night and day to discover a vaccine.

But before they are able to do so, somehow the secret gets out, as one might expect, and the bad guys find a way to steal three vials of the stuff.

Cue the good guys to draft their best heroes in an effort to get it back, while an evil madman holds the world hostage.

Sounds like an episode of 24, doesn't it?

But this novel was published in 1962. Forty years and more ago. Funny, isn't it? During the cold war, and for many years after, we were all so worried about nuclear Armageddon. Humanity was finally smart enough to mitigate that threat, but I guess we forgot about the whole super bug thing along the way, because nearly five decades on it is still on our list of things to worry about.

The book was written by Alistair Maclean, and it is entitled The Satan Bug.

This is not my favorite book by Alistair Maclean, but it is quite good. Of course, one could argue that it almost has to be, given that it was written by one the preeminent writers of thrillers in recent history. Many have tried to emulate him, with varying degrees of success.

Odd thing about Maclean's plots is that they are often predictable, or at least I find them so. I say that is an odd thing because you'd think that would detract from the novel. But it doesn't really; almost all works of fiction are predictable to a certain degree, aren't they? The great strength in Maclean's novels is the development of his characters. He is a Scot, and, as is only natural, the majority of his protagonists hail from the UK. As such, many of them have a dry, sarcastic wit that I enjoy. His heroes, male and female, are usually of the true blue sort; strong, selfless, self-effacing, self-sacrificing, courageous, and tough. Which makes them a bit predictable as well, I suppose, but Maclean somehow always manages to add something to them that makes them admirable rather than a mere caricature.

I've read many of Maclean's novels over the years, and have enjoyed most of them. This is my first foray into this one, but so far I quite like it. ( )

I read this years ago and reread it recently after channel-surfing into the 1965 film starring George Maharis and Anne Francis. The movie is entertaining, but Alistair MacClean’s book is far more visceral and fast-paced. Maybe transplanting the plot from the cold, wet UK to sunny Southern California is part of the problem. In any event, read the book if you like a good thriller.

Originally published in 1962 under the pseudonym of Ian Stuart. ( )

To the outside world, the Mordon Labs existed solely for experiments in preventive medicine… but in reality they were secret laboratories for the development of germ warfare. The most carefully hidden secret was the Satan Bug -- a strain of toxin so deadly that the release of one teaspoon could annihilate mankind.
Late one night, the Mordon security officer was found murdered outside that lab.
And the Satan Bug was missing...