Pg. 69: Jeff Carlson's "Plague Year"

The current feature at the Page 69 Test: Jeff Carlson's Plague Year.

About the book, from the author's website:

The nanotechnology was designed to fight cancer. Instead, it evolved into the machine plague, killing nearly five billion people and changing life on Earth forever.

The nanotech has one weakness: it self-destructs at altitudes above ten thousand feet. Those few who've managed to escape the plague struggle to stay alive on the highest mountains, but time is running out. There is famine and war, and the environment is crashing worldwide. Humanity's last hope lies with a top nanotech researcher aboard the International Space Station — and with a small group of survivors in California who risk a daring journey below the death line...

Among the praise for Plague Year:

"One of the best debut novels in years."
—David Brin, New York Times bestselling author of Kiln People

"Part Michael Crichton, part George Romero... full of high-altitude chills."
—E.E. Knight, national bestselling author of Valentine's Exile

"A grim and fascinating new twist on the post-holocaust story."
—Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling co-author of Hunters of Dune

"Harrowing, heartfelt and rock-hard realistic. Not to be missed."
—James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Judas Strain

Readers can find the first two chapters of Plague Year at Carlson’s web site, along with tour dates, a brain-busting trivia contest, an author biography, and advance information on the sequel War Day, forthcoming from Ace/Penguin in Summer 2008.

The Page 69 Test: Plague Year.

--Marshal Zeringue