Doctor Janeway's Plague [Paperback]

John Farrell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2007

A science-fiction thriller about an astronomer who discovers a source of cosmic rays which may be the origin of an ancient plague reviving once again.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...ambitious in the depth of its scientific background, and the historical connections to colonial history add interest and resonance. -Jon Lehman -- Quincy Patriot Ledger, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2000

...its cross-genre suspense is dead-on for today's market. -Paula Guran -- DarkEcho Newsletter, Nov. 16, 2000

A haunting and suspenseful tale that I couldn't put down. -- Ronald Kessler, author

Here's an enthralling novel ... reminiscent of the more meditative books by Stephen King or Dean Koontz. -Pat Holt -- Holt Uncensored, January 16, 2001

From the Back Cover

A young woman reaches Cambridge in search of a distant relative whom she believes has lived longer than any other human being.

An astronomer discovers a strange, point-like source of cosmic rays coming from the constellation of the Unicorn.

A retiring professor discovers documents from Puritan times about a series of strange deaths and disappearances in the early Boston settlement. One of the signed witnesses has the exact same name as a celebrated minister whom the old professor has welcomed on campus.

Three sleuths and three threads...all leading to the same man.

"I long to believe in immortality," wrote John Keats over 150 years ago. There are those who knew while the poet lived, and those who know better now that some things are better not wished for. The Reverend Doctor Janeway knows why. And his secret is one of the most dangerous ever uncovered.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace; 2nd edition (September 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434803120
• ISBN-13: 978-1434803122
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,391,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm an author and producer based in Boston. I write a blog called Progressive Download for Forbes and have also written for the Wall Street Journal, New Scientist, Huffington Post, National Review and Cosmos Magazine. My favorite writers include Alice Munro, Elmore Leonard, William Trevor, Bruce Sterling, Gene Wolfe, Sean B. Carroll and Herbert McCabe. Some of my published articles and short stories can be read at my website: www.farrellmedia.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DARK STARS AND GOLEMS, August 30, 2001

By 

EMAN NEP - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Janeway's Plague (Paperback)

I, too, was asked by the author to read and review his book. Basically, it tells the story of Reverend Doctor Janeway's obsession with this dark star. The main characters in the story have reason to believe that Janeway is several hundred years old and is the reason for the alarming amount of people turning into golems. If a golem kisses you, then you're a golem. There are some good scenes scattered throughout, but I got a little tired reading about all the golems kissing people, turning them into golems, especially after the forth time or so. The first 2/3 of the book could have been condensed and the end could have been expanded. There were also many times that I felt he could have spent time describing things more, such as the characters and the landscape. Most impressive was the dialogue, though. Too many times authors have their characters talk in speeches. Here, Mr. Farrell has his characters talk like normal, everyday people. This is a very hard book to classify, but I think it would primarily appeal to people who like Mysteries with a little dash of history and fantasy thrown in. All in all, this book is considerably better than a lot of the [stuff] being published today, but it is not quite EXCELLENT. Don't expect Shogun, The Exorcist, or Watership Down, but still, it's a good book and worth a read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Excellent Mystery, September 11, 2000

By 

Ellen Zachos (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Doctor Janeway's Plague (Paperback)

Dr. Janeway's Plague is a captivating mystery with plenty of twists and an excellent pace. While the book touches on the supernatural, it would be limiting to categorize it solely as science fiction. The diverse elements of Puritan New England, modern Cambridge, and astronomy combine to tell a story that I couldn't put down. Character development is excellent; Farrell gives us numerous complex characters, fully developed, with whom we become involved very quickly. Also, he's not afraid to kill off a few of the good guys. As someone on intimate terms with several of his settings (Widener library, Harvard Square, Concord, New Hampshire) I enjoyed his evocative descriptions. Once again, in a short amount of space and time, Farrell gives the reader a reality of place and personality that you would expect would take much more time to deliver. I highly recommend this book; it was a great read.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Example, August 26, 2001

By 

taking a rest - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Doctor Janeway's Plague (Paperback)

One of the benefits of reviewing books is that works by Authors I
would otherwise never have read have been brought to my attention. Not
all the books are memorable, but a surprising number are good, and
some are very good. "Dr. Janeway's Plague", by John Farrell
falls into the latter category. This work of mystery, with both
science fiction and mythology added, is as good as many works that are
sold by the ton. It is a very well written work that has the
advantages of being from a new author, which is critical if reading is
to be kept interesting, and also a work that appeals to readers who
like to think. This writer respects his readers and presents an
articulate read for the mind, as well as an unnerving read for the
emotions. His writing is fresh. I would rather look forward to a great
read that takes time to create and polish, than work from Authors who
churn out formulaic books.

This story takes place primarily in
Cambridge Massachusetts on the Eastern end of the state, and
Charlemont on the Western side. I cannot deny that my being from the
state and my familiarity with the locales gave the story unique
immediacy. However no matter where you live the book works, and does
so brilliantly.

Much of the story centers itself in very old
buildings. Happily a library is center stage for all booklovers. If
you have ever been deep in the crypt-like areas where books are stored
in dark rooms and arranged in claustrophobic labyrinths, you know how
easily you can unnerve yourself. John Farrell takes this very common
fear and then magnifies it exponentially by providing very good
reasons to be terrified. I am fortunate to live near many colleges
with great libraries. After I read this book, my first trip
underground was one with more than a bit of anxiety. A timer turns on
lights; if you get caught up in what you are doing the timer turns
off. After this book I'll start carrying a flashlight with me.

A
building built upon foundations from earlier construction,
architectural sleuths, PHD heroes and villains, and best of all
fundamentally good writing. This is as about as far from B-Movie
slasher trash and Night Of The Living Dead nonsense as dead stars are
from our planet.

The only reason the 5th star is absent is because
this is the writer's first book, and I always believe Authors get
better as they practice their craft.