All of the people who have been exposed to the virus are rapidly dying. Peter considers this a unique opportunity for study, and, since he, by some quirk of nature, possesses an immune system capable of throwing off any foreign invader, he is the right person to conduct this study.

Peter and Stephen trace the origin of the virus to a cave where uranium had been mined many years ago, but had been abandoned and sealed off for quite some time. Recently, the cave site had been rediscovered, and the virus which had been confined to the cave, was released . At first they try to treat the infected people, but it soon becomes apparent that no one will survive. Peter thinks that since the virus is so virulent and confined to a contained population, they should burn the cave and sacrifice the remaining victims, whom they don't have the medical expertise to save anyway.

Stephen is appalled at the lack of compassion of his colleague. He believes that Peter thinks only of the scientific aspects of a case, without regard to the people involved. When he notices a girl who is apparently recovering from the virus, Stephen urges her to run away to avoid being burned alive.

Stephen and Peter return to the United States to continue their work at the CDC. Their relationship has become strained however, due to their differences of opinion on how the situation in Africa should have been handled.

Slightly more than a year after the outbreak of the strange virus in Africa, a remarkably similar virus appears in a small town in Massachusetts. Peter and Stephen both investigate, but separately. Soon, other viral outbreaks occur in isolated places in the U.S. The virus is so deadly that virtually all exposed to it die. Is this the same virus that they saw in Africa, and if so, how did it get to the U.S.?

The Blood Artists is set in the near future which gives the author more freedom. However, the situations described are so close to what could conceivably happen, it is truly terrifying. One can easily imagine a virus that is deadly enough to wipe out a small town. The author goes a bit too far though when he suggests that the virus has the ability to think.

Because of the tremendous volume of action and dialogue that occurs in this book, I see movie written all over it. The fiery conflagration of the uranium mine, the confrontation of Peter and Stephen when they disagree about the purpose of science, the terror in the small town when the virus appears, all seem to be made for the screen. The fact that the virus virtually becomes a character just cries out for Hollywood.

The Blood Artists is a good, quick read with lots of action and dialogue which makes the story move right along. The author's one attempt at philosophy through the musings of Stephen Pearce was mercifully short. The development of the characters is secondary to the action – understandable, considering all that happens in 380 pages. Best of all, the plot is probable enough to cause shivers down your spine.

--Andy Plonka