Review: Cordyceps
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 12, 2012
Cordyceps is a fungus whose natural function is to eliminate insects - great for organic crops, right?  It takes over the insects brains and causes it to "climb higher" in order to spread its spores to a larger space and then kills the insect, thus propogating itself.  You read about how there are organisms in the "real world" today that do this all the time - spiders that lay their eggs in other animals bodies thus providing a food source for the baby, worms that cause other insects to commit suicide so that they drown themselves thus perpetuating the life cycle of the invading organism so we are not talking about something that is that far fetched.Now, take it one step further - somehow, cordyceps evolves or is turned into a fungus that can cross species - it doesn't just want insects, it wants HUMANS and it can evolve and learn from its hosts - US!See that guy up on the roller coaster duct taping himself to the highest point?  Now watch him blow his brain out... see the little cloud of black spores?  Hold your breathe - they are heading for you...Great concept, scary as can be and very realistic!  After all, it all started from trying to improve our food source by eliminating insects without pesticides - scientists are working diligently every day to do the exact same thing.  Now what happens if some accident happens and it mutates?  Or we introduce something that doesn't belong?  Drive down any road in the south and you have a real life example that was brought in to stabilize the erosion of the land that has gotten out of control and can't be stopped or eradicated - that's right - ZUDZU!The characters are great - both those trying to escape the quarantine zone and the General who is running the operation.  I have to say though that my favorite part of the book is the last chapter when the General is talking about his childhood (NO, don't skip ahead to read it!  But talk about what I consider a truly thoughtful, insightful, well written piece of literature - that chapter shows the talent of this author and quite frankly, is so much more than what you expect from a horror/apocalypse type book that it blew me away.I highly recommend this book... just don't read it while driving down some country road by a corn field or two.. you never know what they are using for pest control...