OMNIVIRUS
Again, forgive a veterinarian who spent too much time talking to virologists during a pandemic. Of course, I had to create my own Frankenvirus. The idea, though, came from before COVID. I had read about one giant virus’s ability to protect itself by employing a CRISPR-like technique of gene editing. I also leaned on my own veterinary background and understanding of Toxoplasma gondii, how that protozoan alters the behavior of not only rodents, but also us. I was also intrigued by how a virus can trigger different manifestations, like how rabies can present in both a “furious” state or a “paralytic” form—which might sound familiar after reading this book. Likewise, with mad cow disease. It’s caused by a nasty prion that triggers aggressive behavior in cows, but in humans, it presents with depression and loss of coordination. I also learned that one of the theories for the origins of prions is viruses themselves. Those bits of self-replicating chains of protein might indeed have been cast off from a virus.
So, I took all of these details to create the Omnivirus featured in this book. But considering everything above, maybe it truly is out there, waiting for Mother Nature to be fed up with us two-legged upstarts.
And speaking of Mother Nature . . .
MOTHER NATURE—GREEN IN LEAF AND RED IN THORNS
I had read the first book listed below (The Hidden Life of Trees) back when it first came out in 2016. I was fascinated by the revelations concerning the interconnectivity of a forest, and not just the trees, but also the underlying fungal network that joins it all together. I knew I always wanted to raise this topic in a novel—and this was my chance. I had tackled something similar in my older novel Amazonia, but with all the new research, I wanted to expand it even further. If you’d like to learn more about this intriguing and eye-opening topic, please check out these titles:
Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from a Secret World, by Peter Wohlleben
Brilliant Green: The Surprising History and Science of Plant Intelligence, by Stefano Mancuso and Alessandra Viola
Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest, by Suzanne Simard
Likewise, I’ve always been fascinated by the biology and evolutionary history of fungi and mushrooms, especially their role in the transition of life from sea to land. The oldest fungus was indeed found among fossils discovered in the Congo, dating back 810 million years. That organism is believed to have helped build the Earth’s primordial soil, where the first plants would eventually take root. As to the oldest living fungus, that’s indeed the honey mushroom (Armillaria ostoyae). It can be found many places, but the oldest is the patch in the Malheur National Forest of eastern Oregon. It’s estimated to be 8,000 years old, covering 3.5 square miles, and weighing 35,000 tons—making it also the largest living organism.
Though the claim of being the oldest has a major competitor in the “Trembling Giant”—or Pando—of Utah. That stand of 40,000 interconnected clones of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) weighs 6,600 tons and may be as old as 80,000 years (though some believe it could be over a million years old).
Yet, no matter who wins that award, it’s still a reminder that we humans are very young, and in our youth, often very ill-mannered when it comes to the stewardship of this planet.
GADGETS AND GIZMOS
This book is chock-full of all sorts of destructive weaponry—and one resilient Russian-made vehicle. The Shatun ATV 4X4 is worth looking up. I encourage you to watch videos online of its tough and nimble nature. I want one—just in case I’m ever trekking through a jungle (or a swamp, or a tough par 3 on a golf course).
As to weapons, the MOAB is a real bunker-busting bomb. The Massive Ordnance Air Blast, better known as the Mother of All Bombs, is indeed as strong as a small tactical nuclear weapon. The robotic dogs featured in this book—the Quad-legged Unmanned Ground Vehicles—are real. Though, I’ll stick to the furry versions myself.
In regard to firearms, Gray’s KelTec P50 handgun is real. But Kowalski’s razor-disk-spitting Shuriken is of my own invention—though a prototype for something similar was put into production several years ago. Similarly, Kane’s wireless bandolier that allowed Tucker to remotely drop small charges (flash-bangs, smoke bombs, and grenades) was my own creation. Because why should Tucker have all the fun?
And speaking of Kane . . .
MILITARY WORKING DOGS AND THEIR HANDLERS
I love Tucker and Kane. But how did this dynamic duo come to life? I first encountered this heroic pairing of soldier and war dog while on a USO tour to Iraq and Kuwait in the winter of 2010. Seeing these pairs’ capabilities and recognizing their unique bonds, I wanted to try to capture and honor those relationships. To accomplish that, I spoke to veterinarians in the U.S. Veterinary Corps, interviewed handlers, met their dogs, and saw how these duos grew together to become a single fighting unit. I also vetted their stories with former and current handlers to be as accurate as possible. If you’d like to know more about war dogs and their handlers, I highly recommend two books by the author Maria Goodavage:
Soldier Dogs: The Untold Story of America’s Canine Heroes
Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca
Now, I expect to get a fair amount of hate mail following what happened to Kane. Why was I so cruel? I’ve featured Tucker and Kane’s exploits through four novels, a novella, and a short story. After so long, I felt it disrespectful not to be as realistic as possible about the hardships endured by these brave four-legged soldiers. Though Kane’s fate may wound many readers, I wanted to honor the sacrifice of military working dogs everywhere, those who have lost life and limb in service. Of course, this is not the last you’ll see of Tucker and Kane. In fact, I need a new name for Kane’s feral protégé. If you have any ideas, go to my website, send an email, and share your suggestions. There might even be a reward.
Okay, that’s it. You may have noted a conspicuous absence from this novel, one former assassin-turned-ally. Fear not, Seichan will be return ing from Hong Kong. Though she was sidelined in this book, she is about to be challenged like never before—as someone returns with a vengeance and has Sigma in their sights. So, rest up, gird those loins, and be ready for an adventure that changes everything—and I mean, everything.