Deadly Doses: A Writer's Guide to Poisons (Howdunit Writing) [Paperback]

Serita Deborah Stevens (Author), Anne Klarner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1990 | ISBN-10: 0898793718 | ISBN-13: 978-0898793710 | Edition: 1

Never before has such specialized information been so thoroughly compiled and easily accessible to writers! Each book is written by a professional in their respective field, providing the inside details that writers need to weave a credible -- and salable -- story.

Product Details

• Paperback: 298 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books; 1 edition (August 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898793718
• ISBN-13: 978-0898793710
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #227,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars From a Pharmacist/Poison Specialist, September 18, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Deadly Doses: A Writer's Guide to Poisons (Howdunit Writing) (Paperback)

I became interested in this book, not because I am a writer, but because I'm a toxicologist and love to read anything on poisons.
It's a great place to start, and *mostly* accurate. Hoever, some info is out of date (especially decontamination and antidotes), incomplete, or just plain wrong. It certainly is much easier to read than other toxicology texts, and even though I have my doctorate in pharmacy, I learned a few things! I would suggest though, for people who intend to incorporate poisonings in their writings (accurately), to verify the info with a toxicology text or poison control center.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Beginning Resource, December 30, 2001

By 

Diana R. Sherman (Mountain View, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deadly Doses: A Writer's Guide to Poisons (Howdunit Writing) (Paperback)

Deadly Doses is an excellent beginning resource for the writer interested in using poison as an element within a story. It gives a brief history of poisoning, clearly divided chapters (plant based poisons, industrial, medical, etc.), and an easy to read format for each entry. Each poison is listed with a toxicity rating (6 being the highest), form, effects and symptoms, reaction time, antidotes and treatment, case histories, and notes of interest. Because the book has to cover so much, each entry is necessarilly brief and many less toxic forms of poison are glossed over or omitted. The author is quite open about this from the start.

In addition to the known poisons, the author provides a chapter on how to create an imaginary poison for the sake of your story. You may not find exactly what you need to kill your main victim with, but you will certainly come out of this book with a much stronger sense of how to do it and where to look, thanks to a very infomative biliography. As an unlooked for benefit, you may find yourself far more knowledgeable of dangerous substances in your own life, and, while one hopes such knowledge will never be necessary, knowing the syptoms and treatment of a common household poison may be useful (especially if you have children!)

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must for historical or mystery writers!!, October 10, 2002

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deadly Doses: A Writer's Guide to Poisons (Howdunit Writing) (Paperback)

This book is a super reference book for writers. Gives you a short history of poisons,then moves in the classic aka Agatha Christie style poisons. Next we get into the what's on hand style of poisons i.e. household stuff. Plant poisons, the dead mushrooms etc. They cover movie poisons such as spiders and snakes, medical oops-es, what's in the garden pesticides. Even Street Drugs and a few hints on do-it-yourself-versions. They covered the methods, the forms, the symptoms, and even the time that is takes and just how successful (toxicity rating)....anything a writer needs to know....no no no don't touch that mushroom!

Super reference work and highly recommended