The Hot Zone

A Terrifying True Story

By: Richard Preston

Narrated by: Howard McGillin

Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

A highly infectious, deadly virus from the Central African rain forest suddenly appears in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. There is no cure. In a few days, 90 percent of its victims are dead. A secret military SWAT team of soldiers and scientists is mobilized to stop the outbreak of this exotic "hot" virus.

The Hot Zone tells this dramatic story, giving a hair-raising account of the appearance of rare and lethal viruses and their "crashes" into the human race. Shocking, frightening, and impossible to ignore, The Hot Zone proves that truth really is scarier than fiction.

©2004 Richard Preston. All rights reserved (P)2007 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"A totally convincing page-turner, proving that truth is scarier than fiction." (Kirkus)
"One of the most horrifying things I've ever read. What a remarkable piece of work." (Stephen King)
"A top-drawer horror story...the best literary roller coaster of the fall." (Newsweek)

Doesn't Follow the Book

The Audiobook doesn't follow the book at all. The audiobook left out words, restructured that ways sentences were written, left out sentences, and even left out paragraphs and chapters. The audiobook was no help to me and I wouldn't recommend it. It actually ruined my reading experience. Better off just purchasing the book and reading it yourself.

Abridged....

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Very interesting story- gruesome and compelling.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was very disappointed that this was an abridged version. Book Lite. Only 3 hours of material. That information (that this was a shortened version) wasn't available on the mobile shop and I wish I hadn't wasted a credit

Excellent

This book was one that intrigued me so much that I couldn't stop listening. Highly recommended.

Unbelievable

This book was my first introduction to audio books in the mid 1990's. A friend gave me the cassette tapes of this as I was leaving on a 3 hour road trip. She had offered tapes before but I kept thinking that mainly old people who couldn't see to read listened to books on tape. When I got to a radio dead zone, I popped the first tape in. OMG. I was totally hooked. This is the type of book that might cause you to lose your job or at least be late as you sit in the parking lot unable to tear yourself away! I will warn you that there are some graphic descriptions of blood pouring from all body orifices that might gross out non-medical people. Other than that, this will scare the heck out of you and definitely make you feel differently about cute little monkeys from here on out.

The scariest book ive ever read.

And its all true. An easy listen and well worth your time.

Abridged Version

The book was nice unfortunately, i did not know that this audiobook version was an abridged one, only 3 hours long. Many parts were omitted. there is an unabridged version, over 10 hours long, unfortunately, the same was not in english. I had to return the book. If they come out with the unabridged version, I would buy again though.

Scary Stuff

Are we a virus on this earth and the earth is just counteracting to shift it's balance. The most interesting concept in the book. Really scary stuff out there and shows me how insignificant we can become when these nasty virus's decide to show their colours

Great Book, but Very Graphic

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes medical mysteries.

Be aware, that the book has some very graphic descriptions of how a hemorrhagic virus attacks and destroys the human body. If you are uncomfortable with blood and guts, give this book a pass.

wild story but didn't particularly grab me.

the narration was good, story was cool, but it wasn't a particularly excitingly written book. a lot of exposition for not a ton of payoff, which I get is because it's a mostly true story, but I could have done with less info about each person and their lives

Detailed

The writing was very descriptive of the events. As a Retired Public Health Scientist detauled