Plague War/Plague Zone

Plague War
Plague Zone
By Jeff Carlson

So near the end of 2009 I read Plague Year the first of three books  in his series about nanobots that consume human flesh, self replicate, and destroy the world.  Well the world below 10,000'.

It took a while to finish the series but I was glad that I did.  While I remembered the overall plot of the first book I forgot the details. Big mistake. This book picks up right where the last left off. Well maybe a few days later...

I had to read my old thoughts and a few summaries on amazon to refresh my memory.  Cam and Ruth are still heading to higher elevation, all the while being pursued by the military in Colorado.  To sum up this first book it's mostly chases and fights to get them to join the good side.  Ruth realizes that she could improve the nanobots that are in everyone's bloodstream but ends up developing an ANN, anti nano nanobot that will destroy all the other vaccine bots and take away the ability to live below 10,000 feet.  Her goal is to force the Chinese, Russians, and Americans to make peace.  Our heroes end up leaving the Colorado stronghold to restart life below the barrier, 10,000' barrier that is.

Plague Zone starts some 15 months or so after the last book. Ruth, Cam, Allison have founded Jefferson, less than 40 miles from Grand Lake. Eeking out an existence, they have greenhouses that are under constant assault from ants and other insects. With all other wildlife destroyed by the nanobots incests have taken over the world!  An interesting concept, I wonder just how true it is?

The Chinese (150,000 troops on north America) have unleashed a mind nanobot that confuses by attaching to the frontal lobe of the brain. Not a perfect bot. Some die. Some live. The goal is to make the victim witless. In the long run the Chinese want control of all of North America.

In the end the war is stopped.  Cam and Ruth recover from the various nanobots that have infected them.  They profess their love for each other. Ruth goes back to her nanobot research.  Cam tries to tell her not to create a better nano that would kill the whole world/wipe the brains of everyone in the world (cause anyone who had that power wouldn't even have to use it, just the threat would give you control! Because that thinking was so successful in preventing wars when the threat of nuclear bombs was around.)  She says she will not make a new nanobot, but she's not sure if she's can stop her research.  Ohhh.  Setting it up for more books Mr. Carlson?

Thoughts: it's not really a PA story, but it is a PA story. A war story in a post-apocalyptic work I guess? Overall the 3 book were quite engrossing. The story could have ended after the second but there is another. I kinda wish there wasn't. Maybe a little bit? I worried the third book would be more of the same, fighting and double crossing (though not as bad as Gardner by a long shot) plus it's longer. Turns out my hunch was correct.  The good news is I enjoyed reading the books.  As a bonus they will probably appeal to a broader audience and not just to PA enthusiasts.