“The Atlantis Plague” by A. G. Riddle – A Rebirth in Pestilence

Genetic manipulation and bio-engineering are topics which are likely to gain quite a lot of traction in the coming years as our technology in those realms expands ever-further.

As you might imagine, the ability to manipulate life on a molecular level is a rather heavy proposition, one which raises numerous moral as well as practical questions, especially what it could mean down the line for the race as a whole.

A. G. Riddle is the kind of author who certainly isn't afraid to explore these grey and vague areas of modern life, as he does fantastically in the second book in The Origin Mystery Series, The Atlantis Plague.

Taking off pretty much where the first book left off, we are once again presented with the superhero-type agent David, still at odds with his Nazi arch-nemesis, Dorian. Though the latter manages to get the edge on David and put a bullet in his head, his demise is not to be as he gets mysteriously resurrected countless miles away.

Meanwhile, something much worse is happening to humanity as a plague ravages it, already having decimated over a billion people. With the help of her stepfather Martin, Kate scrambles around in search for a cure, only for them to discover it to be a bio-engineered bug that converts a person's DNA, effectively making it impossible to stop.

They devise a drug called Orchid which curbs the symptoms and buys them some time... and that is where the Immari interfere, proposing to let the plague run its course instead. Those who survive it proceed to the next, superior stage in human evolution, and they are campaigning for a world populated only by these chosen few.

Just like in the first book, Riddle brings to the table some very technical vocabulary and descriptions that sound like they're taken straight out of some scientific journal.

However, he does manage to keep it simple enough for most readers to get the general gist of what he's talking about, without really questioning whether the science behind it is true or not.

These moments help to add a certain air of realism and legitimacy to the story, making the world feel like one we could attain given enough time to develop our technology.

There is an aspect which this second novel bests the first one, and it's character development. We get to go much deeper than before into Dave and Kate's backgrounds, learning along the way about the past of a few other actors that help bring the cast of this story to life, feeling more human than previously. We never learn too much about them of course, always leaving room for some additional twists and turns down the line.

Of course, the author kept his style from the previous book, in the sense that the story advances at such a rapid pace that at times it feels like it's made of plot twists more than anything else.

There are plenty of jaw-dropping moments that will have you staring at the pages in wide-eyed disbelief, though I do have to admit that as you go on through the book, you become increasingly immune to the effect and start expecting the sharp and sudden curves.

Nevertheless, the story progresses very smoothly and logically, never introducing elements that feel superfluous or out of place. The stakes really are very high (humanity's survival) and you can feel the omnipresent danger in the air in virtually every scene; time really is running out, and all of our hopes along with it.

As you'd expect from a second book in a series, while some loose ends are resolved, many of the plotlines end on cliffhangers, though exciting ones nonetheless.

Riddle also uses the opportunity to shed some light on real-world issues, mainly revolving around the types of consequences genetic manipulation could have on the human race, especially if the ability to do so were to fall into the wrong hands.

While the book certainly isn't heavy on philosophy, it does raise a few questions, such as how will we react when our technology exceeds our grasp? Where will human evolution will take us? How do we know when to stop playing God?

All things considered, The Atlantis Plague avoids the middle child curse and ends up being a unique and fascinating science-fiction experience, one that complements its predecessor and improves on it in certain aspects.

It sets up quite the intriguing stage for the next chapter in the series, and one can only hope for it to be as engaging, original and thought-provoking as this one. The Origin Mystery series is definitely one science-fiction fans of any genre ought to give a try.

---

A. G. Riddle Personal site A. G. Riddle is an American author from North Carolina who spent ten years dabbling in the world of internet business before devoting himself to his true passion, fiction writing. The Atlantis Gene is his widely-acclaimed debut novel, having already been translated into over 22 languages and marking the beginning of a bestselling series.