Pls Help with Global Pandemic

[TromboneAl]

I'm really trying to stop writing books, but I'm not having much luck.

In my next book, I want a global pandemic that will almost wipe out the human race. My idea is an avian flu or ebola-type deal that checks all the boxes for devastation: mutates fast, extremely contagious, can live for a long time on surfaces, etc.

I might also have drug-resistant bacterial infection involved https://www.nih.gov/news-events/new...ia-caused-most-deaths-1918-influenza-pandemic ), as well as a CDC run by a poorly qualified politician.

The die-off will be completed in the first few chapters, and then the main character will travel around, looking for others who survived.

You guys have given me good ideas in the past. Any tips or suggestions for how the pandemic might work or what might happen in the book.

Thanks.

 

[USGrant1962]

Thinking about similar stories (and I'm mostly talking about TV and movies), it seems to me that the sheer quantity of dead bodies is usually under-represented. Especially in urban areas. And not only humans, but also domesticated pets and farm animals that cannot escape or fend for themselves.

This, along with breakdowns in sanitation and medical care and the survivors' weakened immune systems, might lead to secondary pandemics. So your superbug might KO 50% in urban areas, but the secondary epidemics of typhus, cholera, plague (the rat population would explode in big cities), etc. create a double-hitter. Mix in societal breakdown and your population is down to 5% - ready for the second part of your book.

 

[garyt]

You know better than me, but in my opinion this plot line has been done to death, no pun intended. Just look at Netflix, there might be a hundred series, movies based on this scenario. Maybe there's room for one more, what do I know? But hard to believe you could come up with a story line not already done. No offense intended, just an honest opinion and I actually like the genre.

 

[garyt]

Thinking about similar stories (and I'm mostly talking about TV and movies), it seems to me that the sheer quantity of dead bodies is usually under-represented. Especially in urban areas. And not only humans, but also domesticated pets and farm animals that cannot escape or fend for themselves.

This, along with breakdowns in sanitation and medical care and the survivors' weakened immune systems, might lead to secondary pandemics. So your superbug might KO 50% in urban areas, but the secondary epidemics of typhus, cholera, plague (the rat population would explode in big cities), etc. create a double-hitter. Mix in societal breakdown and your population is down to 5% - ready for the second part of your book.

Yea, in shows like The Walking Dead they conveniently overlook this. Hundreds of dead bodies everywhere and no plagues. People get shot and with little no antibiotics recover like nothing.

 

[TromboneAl]

You know better than me, but in my opinion this plot line has been done to death, no pun intended. Just look at Netflix, there might be a hundred series, movies based on this scenario. Maybe there's room for one more, what do I know? But hard to believe you could come up with a story line not already done. No offense intended, just an honest opinion and I actually like the genre.

I've had the same thoughts. It's very true, but the genre is still popular.

A twist that my story will have is that the main character has had his DNA altered (The Protected Witness) and he doesn't age. Therefore, the book will have a much longer perspective (hundreds of years) on what happens after most people are gone. It will be like the book How to Stop Time, but into the future instead of the past.

And the adventures the MC has will be unique.

Finally, I don't write books that will sell, I write books that will be fun to write.

 

[tb001]

The other thing you want is a long incubation time. Gives an individual more time to spread the infection while they’re unaware they have it.

 

[TromboneAl]

Thinking about similar stories (and I'm mostly talking about TV and movies), it seems to me that the sheer quantity of dead bodies is usually under-represented.

Yes, I've had the same thoughts. In another book (Contact Us), an alien culls 70% of the population and I had to deal with that. Based on a suggestion from another forum, I had the alien's nanobots cause the bodies to turn to dust immediately.

In this book, there will be bodies everywhere, terrible smell, etc. The main character will get out of town to escape them.

Also, the bodies will result in huge swings in animal populations (rats and vultures, then things that prey on those, etc.).

 

[mystang52]

I've only watched a few shows/movies in this genre. Even allowing for some artistic license, there is too much of a stretch of credibility in some taken-for-granted areas.

For example - besides all the dead bodies - cars still operating years after the devastating event (how'd they get the gasoline?), electricity still working, and so on. I guess the story line might become too lengthy or complicated to throw in these realisms, but maybe you want to factor this in.

 

[Rianne]

Yes,
In this book, there will be bodies everywhere, terrible smell, etc. The main character will get out of town to escape them.

Also, the bodies will result in huge swings in animal populations (rats and vultures, then things that prey on those, etc.).

The bodies could turn into zombies or Soylent Green, it's been done before and is tiresome. I think the direction of nuclear holocaust might be do able. So, the main character is immune to radiation and survives, no flourishes because radiation made him bigger and stronger. He can now compete with animals for food.

Another thought is the people who come out of the nuclear bunker that's hidden in some mountain. They come out to world without humans.

 

[cooch96]

This thread makes me almost want to reread The Stand. I guess it’s been over 25 years.

Anyway, I think a virus that uses multiple bird species as vectors, but actually prefers human hosts, would satisfy your need for a pandemic. Plenty of them fly nearly pole to pole and between Alaska and Russia. I’m not even sure Antarctica would be safe (although that would be a good spot to find sheltered scientists).

 

[Nemo2]

So our protagonist finds that the world he knew is now dominated by apes and.....oh, wait...

 

[TromboneAl]

I've only watched a few shows/movies in this genre. Even allowing for some artistic license, there is too much of a stretch of credibility in some taken-for-granted areas.

For example - besides all the dead bodies - cars still operating years after the devastating event (how'd they get the gasoline?), electricity still working, and so on. I guess the story line might become too lengthy or complicated to throw in these realisms, but maybe you want to factor this in.

I'm planning to keep things realistic—the only things that might push the envelope are the non-aging thing and a pandemic that is so successful (from the virus' point of view).

My plan is for the guy to head out with a gasoline vehicle, but after 2-3 years, all the gas has gone bad, and he reverts to bike or foot.

One problem: How does he get the gasoline out of the abandoned gas stations? Ideas? Saw open pipes and use a hand pump?

Another question on the pandemic. Let's say two years have passed, and he comes across a small, isolated population that was never exposed. My guess is that the virus has died out and that he is no longer contagious (he will have contracted the virus but survived).

 

[Nemo2]

One problem: How does he get the gasoline out of the abandoned gas stations? Ideas? Saw open pipes and use a hand pump?

Another question on the pandemic. Let's say two years have passed, and he comes across a small, isolated population that was never exposed.

When Mad Max was defending the Pappagallo and their refinery from the fearsome Humungus he....

 

[Sunset]

Spreading of the virus by airplane travelers is one way to ensure massively quick distribution around the world, if it was very contagious without symptoms for a week or two.

 

[cooch96]

Another idea for transportation would be an old army surplus truck. Many of them came with multi-fuel engines: ran best on diesel, but could use marine fuel oil, kerosene, vegetable oil, motor oil, etc. I believe kerosene can last decades, same with most motor oil. Mechanically simple, off road capabilities, and tons of payload. MC can brush up on his high school chemistry and find or make acid to rebuild the batteries. MC can find replacement hoses and such for decades at Big box stores or even old mechanic shops around the world. Finding new tires after 20 years might be super difficult. Another hard part to keep it going would be finding a functioning welder and other power tools to make structural repairs; but perhaps those will be available again a decade after the nadir.

Or maybe the MC learns to ride horses.

It depends on the virus, right. Many are only contagious through open sores. You carry chicken pox your whole life; it can even come back as shingles. But you’re only contagious when your skin is all pimply. But your sci-fi, your rules. Maybe it was originally weaponized to self destruct after 3 months, but it mutated to self destruct after 30.

 

[TromboneAl]

Another idea for transportation would be an old army surplus truck. Many of them came with multi-fuel engines: ran best on diesel, but could use marine fuel oil, kerosene, vegetable oil, motor oil, etc. I believe kerosene can last decades, same with most motor oil. Mechanically simple, off road capabilities, and tons of payload. MC can brush up on his high school chemistry and find or make acid to rebuild the batteries. MC can find replacement hoses and such for decades at Big box stores or even old mechanic shops around the world. Finding new tires after 20 years might be super difficult. Another hard part to keep it going would be finding a functioning welder and other power tools to make structural repairs; but perhaps those will be available again a decade after the nadir.

Or maybe the MC learns to ride horses.

It depends on the virus, right. Many are only contagious through open sores. You carry chicken pox your whole life; it can even come back as shingles. But you’re only contagious when your skin is all pimply. But your sci-fi, your rules. Maybe it was originally weaponized to self destruct after 3 months, but it mutated to self destruct after 30.

Excellent ideas.

 

[HFWR]

Permafrost melts, or a meteorite strikes, or a volcano erupts, releasing hitherto unknown virus into the environment.

 

[Winemaker]

Genetic pandemic to left handed folks (or right handed). Not discoverable until late, not a health care screening question. Once link is discovered late it's lefties vs. righties ( or vice versa) until no one left standing.

Except tall wine makers and spouses who will then rule the earth!

 

[Lakewood90712]

I think the most damaging virus would be one that infects and shuts down all I Phones. The developed world would grind to a halt and zombies would be roaming the streets

 

[Lewis Clark]

You may want to read the book "On the Beach" by Nevil Shute. It was written in the 1950s about a group of people in Australia who were the last survivors of a global nuclear war.

I read it many years ago, and don't remember it being excessively long. You may also be able to find the movie versions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Beach_(novel)

 

[Totoro]

Once link is discovered late it's lefties vs. righties (or vice versa) until no one left standing.

No man left behind. Right makes might .. endless puns ..

 

[folivier]

Fairly easy to get gas or diesel out of stations: use a hand pump with a long intake hose, open the tank fill caps and pump it out. Diesel doesn't typically have additives like gasoline and doesn't get stale (create varnish, etc.) and I agree military type vehicles would be best.
Will your story focus on getting out of town aspects? Or life after he's left civilization and is scavenging and trying to survive?

 

[Mdlerth]

Seriously, what will the protagonist learn from the journey?

Finally, I don't write books that will sell, I write books that will be fun to write.

Consider writing it as a comedy. The virus transforms people into shmoos (from the comic strip Li'l Abner) who give their lives to become something useful for someone else. Each time one infected person turns into a pizza, the folks who eat it catch the virus. Conflict arises between the pro and anti-anchovy factions and hilarity ensues!

The only survivors are folks who are gluten or lactose intolerant who won't eat the pizza.

I confess I'd be in the first wave of victims.

 

[Masquernom]

Here's an idea for you. Radical organization develops disease to kill all corn crops to attack USA. USA secretly retaliates with disease to attack rice. China retaliates with wheat disease. Whole world starves......

 

[brewer12345]

As for an effect of the dead bodies, there is a write up of what happened when researchers dumped dozens of wild boar carcasses on a section of forest that had been logged or otherwise ruined. The next few months were disgusting, but in the ensuing years that test plot recovered way faster than the surrounding logged land and was apparently on its way to a fertile garden of Eden. 5 or 10 years after the big die off the protagonist could find the big population centers quite habitable.