Help me find this novel?
September 15, 2009 3:48 PM Subscribe
Help me identify this novel of which the details have been lost?
Read a novel when I was much, much younger that I'm trying to find again. The (admittedly sketchy) details that I can summon are these:
- Novel may be entitled by a double-figure number, like '53, in burning letters on the cover I remember.
- Involves (presumably future) plague involving blood.
- Protagonist is male, has wife and (unborn?) child who are both killed at some point.
Realise this is fairly unlikely to yield results but hope springs eternal.
Read a novel when I was much, much younger that I'm trying to find again. The (admittedly sketchy) details that I can summon are these:
- Novel may be entitled by a double-figure number, like '53, in burning letters on the cover I remember.
- Involves (presumably future) plague involving blood.
- Protagonist is male, has wife and (unborn?) child who are both killed at some point.
Realise this is fairly unlikely to yield results but hope springs eternal.
Response by poster: Doubtful, I'm afraid- I distinctly remember some sort of futuristic or contemporary setting.
posted by malusmoriendumest at 4:06 PM on September 15, 2009
posted by malusmoriendumest at 4:06 PM on September 15, 2009
The plot you describe sounds a whole lot like Second Angel by Philip Kerr.
posted by nestor_makhno at 4:26 PM on September 15, 2009
posted by nestor_makhno at 4:26 PM on September 15, 2009
The description rings bells; how long ago did you read it, and do you have any idea how old it was back then?
I recall reading something that sounds similar - something about rage or anger perhaps? - back 15-20 years ago that was probably published in the 60s or 70s... Google isn't helping just yet...!
posted by Chunder at 5:04 PM on September 15, 2009
I recall reading something that sounds similar - something about rage or anger perhaps? - back 15-20 years ago that was probably published in the 60s or 70s... Google isn't helping just yet...!
posted by Chunder at 5:04 PM on September 15, 2009
Wasn't called Heat was it? That's popped into my head pretty clearly, but there's no hope in heck of being able to Google such a mundane word. If nobody comes up with an answer beforehand, I'll see if it's still at my parent's place next time I'm there.
posted by Chunder at 5:27 PM on September 15, 2009
posted by Chunder at 5:27 PM on September 15, 2009
Best answer: '48 by James Herbert
posted by shoesfullofdust at 6:07 PM on September 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by shoesfullofdust at 6:07 PM on September 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Excellent- thanks a lot! It was really bugging me of late :)
posted by malusmoriendumest at 6:35 AM on September 17, 2009
posted by malusmoriendumest at 6:35 AM on September 17, 2009
Just today found out why I was getting muddled - I'd confused a couple of books by Arthur Herzog; IQ83 had the number on the cover and the plague element, and another of his books - Heat - had the firey letters on the cover. Ah well - glad someone else was able to help!
posted by Chunder at 12:03 PM on September 20, 2009
posted by Chunder at 12:03 PM on September 20, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by kylej at 3:55 PM on September 15, 2009