.”–Chris Patsilelis, Houston Chronicle
“Riveting with a broad sense of the history. [Tucker] treats the risks of small pox evenhandedly without sensationalism. The prose is clear and crisp without excessive medical jargon. A compelling read.” –James Horton, Charlotte Observer
“Tucker offers a whirlwind tour of small pox’s role in shaping world history (ravaging royal families, altering the outcome of wars, and decimating the native populations in North and South America), and in the process he shares anecdotes both interesting and appalling. . . . In addition to providing a very readable history . . . Tucker raises important questions that received little attention during last year’s smallpox speculation frenzy.” –Troy K. Schneider, National Journal
“A political scientist and an expert on bio-weapons analysis, Tucker provides an engrossing look at the continuing debate.”–Library Journal (starred review)
“Tucker, an expert in biological weapons, has a sense of both the detail and the broad sweep of history that helps him make the story of smallpox as disease and as weapon fascinating and frightening. Tucker describes in detail the long struggle over maintaining research stocks of the virus–an effort that rather leaves smallpox as a terrorist weapon looming threateningly over this well-written, thoroughly documented book.”–William Beatty, Booklist
“A true-life tale of heroes and villains, frighteningly real and marvelously told.”–Kirkus Reviews
“Jonathan Tucker vividly recounts the riveting history of mankind’s greatest scourge, following smallpox from the time of the Egyptian pharaohs right up through the present, as the U.S. prepares to stockpile vaccine once more, against the possibility that it may be released through the deliberate action of a terrorist group or rogue state. This is a compelling story to read and ponder.”–Steven M. Block, Professor of Biological Sciences, Stanford University
“Tucker describes the ravages caused by the disease and succinctly traces its role in history. . . . The book is difficult to put down.”–Publishers Weekly