Extinction

This novel postulates the origin of oil, suggests reasons for terrorism, offers a solution to the energy crisis, and presents the inevitable outcome of rampant hatred. It is the first novel of a four novel series that includes Extinction, Aftermath Horizon, Beyond the Horizon, and Infinity Quest.

Extinction Blurb: Dr. Marcy Whites overcomes enormous genetic engineering obstacles to resurrect a prehistoric bacterium (V5) capable of creating renewable oil. On the other side of the world, people die by the millions when genetically-engineered beta-hemolytic streptococcus (BHS), a pathogen developed for bio-terrorism, is released by accident in Mecca. Carried by fanatical Ambulatory Infectious Agents seeking martyrdom, the flesh-eating disease spreads like wildfire with a 100% kill rate. Out of desperation, countries agree to sanitize the infectious outer perimeter of the kill zone with nuclear weapons. Dr. Whites joins a government team attempting to adapt V5 as a BHS antidote. Their deadline passes, and Operation Sanitize releases mankind's most powerful weapons against its smallest enemy. Nuclear detonations temporarily halt expansion of the kill zone, but Dr. Whites continues antidote refinement knowing BHS-laden dust will someday settle to the surface.