INTERVIEW ON THE FINAL CONTAGION

 

 

THE FINAL CONTAGION.
LUME BOOKS, UK, has just re-published my plague novel, THE OBLIVION TAPES. It was first published in the US/UK and German in 1978. The new title as you can see is THE FINAL CONTAGION.
 

Why I wrote it: .

 

Back in the 1976, I remember reading a study, Population Resources Environment by Paul Ehrlich and Anne Ehrlich. It was a massive study, very complex and thoroughly researched which warned about the possibility of a conflict between the rich and poor nations for diminishing natural recourses. The authors did not suggest genocide. But I thought then, with the exploding population, there was a possibility of forces trying to control the growth. When I wrote the novel, the theme became darker that there would be some drastic action one day.  My novel was a warning. My friends who read the early drafts asked me not to publish it. However, an American, British and a German publisher bought the rights.

To be honest, I had forgotten about that novel after 40 years until the Coronovirus struck the world. I do not see the virus as fulfilling my prescient thoughts back then. However, with climate change today a major concern for human survival, I think now it is nature striking back as us. I wanted that novel republished, as I believe even more that we are all reaching a tipping point in our survival, and the world may end with my novel’s prediction.