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Darwin Contagion
A harrowing post-apocalyptic series by Walt Browning about surviving the consequences of man’s arrogance.
Mankind's dominance has come to an end...
When a terrorist group detonates a small nuclear device at a level four biohazard facility, it releases the infection vectors stored within and creates a contagion that devastates the planet.
Entire species are wiped out, while those that survive are genetically transformed into prehistoric mutations of their former self.
Secret Service agent Alex Durham is assigned to protect the president. As the dangers of the expanding nuclear fallout become apparent, he accompanies the country’s leadership as they seek shelter from the impending contagion.
When they emerge weeks later, the global aftermath of the terrorist attack leaves the survivors struggling to find safety in a world that has regressed millions of years. Creatures from the past and those newly created rise to challenge mankind’s dominance.
All that matters now is survival...
Walt Browning, the bestselling author of Extinction Survival, returns with this harrowing post-apocalyptic survival series. Don’t miss this tale about people trying to survive the consequences of man’s arrogance, all while somehow maintaining their humanity.
Mankind's dominance has come to an end...
When a terrorist group detonates a small nuclear device at a level four biohazard facility, it releases the infection vectors stored within and creates a contagion that devastates the planet.
Entire species are wiped out, while those that survive are genetically transformed into prehistoric mutations of their former self.
Secret Service agent Alex Durham is assigned to protect the president. As the dangers of the expanding nuclear fallout become apparent, he accompanies the country’s leadership as they seek shelter from the impending contagion.
When they emerge weeks later, the global aftermath of the terrorist attack leaves the survivors struggling to find safety in a world that has regressed millions of years. Creatures from the past and those newly created rise to challenge mankind’s dominance.
All that matters now is survival...
Walt Browning, the bestselling author of Extinction Survival, returns with this harrowing post-apocalyptic survival series. Don’t miss this tale about people trying to survive the consequences of man’s arrogance, all while somehow maintaining their humanity.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2025
453 people are currently reading
1450 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
dnfed
June 27, 2025There's a lot of characters and we learn a lot about them even if they are going to get offed in the next paragraph which means that at 27% we were still meeting some randos and exploring their situations which was rather tedious. I gave up when the Tesla crawler did whatever, couldn't muster the will to keep going.
DNF at 27%, no rating.
DNF at 27%, no rating.
June 21, 2025
solid first entry
Great start to what is hopefully going to be an amazing series! Can’t wait for book 2 to see what happens next!
Great start to what is hopefully going to be an amazing series! Can’t wait for book 2 to see what happens next!
June 3, 2025
Fun read
Though the science seems utterly far fetched, I love medical apocalypse stories and enjoyed this one. An act of terrorism at a level 4 experimental lab results in a worldwide virus that turns all infected life into enormous chimeras of prehistoric monsters. Within days! A ship of humans survive, and the book ends abruptly with the expectation we will continue to the next volume in the series. Which I will. Though the characters are stock, to me there's something so relaxing about reading a page-turner that demands absolutely nothing of me. The main characters are good guys with solid morals, and the bad guys are nasty, and I'm fully expecting the good guys to win. Yay. The monsters are scary but the people are strong and clever. Another yay. As I say in the caption, a fast fun easy read to slough off the pricks and pains of reality for a few hours.
Though the science seems utterly far fetched, I love medical apocalypse stories and enjoyed this one. An act of terrorism at a level 4 experimental lab results in a worldwide virus that turns all infected life into enormous chimeras of prehistoric monsters. Within days! A ship of humans survive, and the book ends abruptly with the expectation we will continue to the next volume in the series. Which I will. Though the characters are stock, to me there's something so relaxing about reading a page-turner that demands absolutely nothing of me. The main characters are good guys with solid morals, and the bad guys are nasty, and I'm fully expecting the good guys to win. Yay. The monsters are scary but the people are strong and clever. Another yay. As I say in the caption, a fast fun easy read to slough off the pricks and pains of reality for a few hours.
August 19, 2025
I received this books as part of Goodreads giveaway. There is a lot to unpack with this book and I’m going to be totally honest in my review.
First and for most, the editing of this book is lacking. Formatting errors. Punctuation errors. Uneven plot. The only thing I can’t comment on is the military jargon as I don’t have that background. Hopefully someone else can verify the accuracy on that.
Secondly, the very uneducated portrayal of people of the Middle East and Muslims is at best lazy writing and at worst xenophobic. I’m hoping it’s just lack of cultural awareness and horrible writing style instead of actual ingrained bias. It was so off putting that finishing the book was difficult. The whole origin story of the virus is ruined due to the undertones. Then there is a whole 2nd section where the author tries to bring it back but it still just reads as a person who has never met a Muslim person. Also the 2nd section makes no sense to the plot of the first book. Maybe it has meaning in the next book but I’m not reading past the first.
Lastly, this book is just dry to read. It’s very much a military procedural with little tid bits of smaller stories of the virus mixed in. I liked the smaller stories mixed in overall. The book felt like I was being relayed information instead of being able to truly connect with anything going on like other fiction books. I was excited about the topic. Very interesting and unique idea. It’s unfortunate that it’s just not well written. The story then just abruptly ends, but not like in a cliff hanger way. Like it just stops in the middle of a plot point. Such a weird ending to an already not good book.
I gave it 2 stars due to the interesting idea and the middle of the book was okay to read. Overall, I do not recommend this book.
First and for most, the editing of this book is lacking. Formatting errors. Punctuation errors. Uneven plot. The only thing I can’t comment on is the military jargon as I don’t have that background. Hopefully someone else can verify the accuracy on that.
Secondly, the very uneducated portrayal of people of the Middle East and Muslims is at best lazy writing and at worst xenophobic. I’m hoping it’s just lack of cultural awareness and horrible writing style instead of actual ingrained bias. It was so off putting that finishing the book was difficult. The whole origin story of the virus is ruined due to the undertones. Then there is a whole 2nd section where the author tries to bring it back but it still just reads as a person who has never met a Muslim person. Also the 2nd section makes no sense to the plot of the first book. Maybe it has meaning in the next book but I’m not reading past the first.
Lastly, this book is just dry to read. It’s very much a military procedural with little tid bits of smaller stories of the virus mixed in. I liked the smaller stories mixed in overall. The book felt like I was being relayed information instead of being able to truly connect with anything going on like other fiction books. I was excited about the topic. Very interesting and unique idea. It’s unfortunate that it’s just not well written. The story then just abruptly ends, but not like in a cliff hanger way. Like it just stops in the middle of a plot point. Such a weird ending to an already not good book.
I gave it 2 stars due to the interesting idea and the middle of the book was okay to read. Overall, I do not recommend this book.
July 25, 2025
This takes place a bit in the future where neurolinks are a thing as is a significant AI presence that controls a lot. There are a lot of elements that could be deemed political triggers: Chinese troops referred to as Chicoms, jihadist Iranians that actually set off the apocalypse, Musk, and a calculating president, this one female, but has no feelings of wanting to help any but her inner circle. There is a lot of story with minutiae and unfortunately ends with everyone in that vignette dying-i started just skimming those. The idea of sheltering in a sealed ship at sea is a good one, but could they not have had more ships? The AI is working to the benefit of the few protagonists worth cheering for, but in real life, there would be a major human oversight on the AI decisions and it would not be able to consign "important" government officials to death simply because they were past their childbearing years without a human needing to ok that. That makes some of this less than believable, but I may continue with book 2 to see what happens.
May 24, 2025
A promising start to a unique viral apocalypse
Darwin Contagion, book 1 in The Chimera Virus series details the first chapter in the creation of a new world by a virus created when a nuclear weapon is detonated inside a BSL-4 facility. The virus causes horrific mutations, devolution, in any exposed creature exposed to the airborne virus, circumnavigating the globe on the jet stream. Alex, the primary protagonist, is among thousands chosen to ride out the virus in a hermetically sealed aircraft carrier. The writing is decent, with some minor typos, but is otherwise well composed. Darwin Contagion ends with the end of the ships quarantine with actual officers and private contractors fighting for control of the ship. I'm looking forward to the next installment. This is a book I can recommend to fans if both outbreak thrillers and apocalyptic survival fiction. Readers should know that sexual assault is a problem with the contractors...
Darwin Contagion, book 1 in The Chimera Virus series details the first chapter in the creation of a new world by a virus created when a nuclear weapon is detonated inside a BSL-4 facility. The virus causes horrific mutations, devolution, in any exposed creature exposed to the airborne virus, circumnavigating the globe on the jet stream. Alex, the primary protagonist, is among thousands chosen to ride out the virus in a hermetically sealed aircraft carrier. The writing is decent, with some minor typos, but is otherwise well composed. Darwin Contagion ends with the end of the ships quarantine with actual officers and private contractors fighting for control of the ship. I'm looking forward to the next installment. This is a book I can recommend to fans if both outbreak thrillers and apocalyptic survival fiction. Readers should know that sexual assault is a problem with the contractors...
January 9, 2026
It’s PALLET ffs!
I don’t know why so many modern authors don’t understand the difference between palate, palette and pallet, but it’s not rocket science! If it has to do with taste then it’s palate, if it has to do with colors/painting it’s palette and if you’re stacking stuff onto something then that something is a pallet! PALLET!!!
With that mini-rant out of the way, I did want to say that I enjoyed the book enough to be interested in the 2nd book when it’s released. I just hope it’s edited better than this one (sooooo many typos, not just palate/pallet). There are some interesting characters, including the main AI, and some awful characters that I really want to see die horrible and much-deserved deaths.
If you haven’t read the author’s Extinction Survival series, I highly recommend it. The series on which it’s based is almost impossible to find except on Audible, but it’s also excellent.
I don’t know why so many modern authors don’t understand the difference between palate, palette and pallet, but it’s not rocket science! If it has to do with taste then it’s palate, if it has to do with colors/painting it’s palette and if you’re stacking stuff onto something then that something is a pallet! PALLET!!!
With that mini-rant out of the way, I did want to say that I enjoyed the book enough to be interested in the 2nd book when it’s released. I just hope it’s edited better than this one (sooooo many typos, not just palate/pallet). There are some interesting characters, including the main AI, and some awful characters that I really want to see die horrible and much-deserved deaths.
If you haven’t read the author’s Extinction Survival series, I highly recommend it. The series on which it’s based is almost impossible to find except on Audible, but it’s also excellent.
August 4, 2025
the cover didn’t correlate
Lay use the promise of a future to get into the how of technology and genetic engineering get things to happen. I fill you rushed to into has you at times give a world with no insight into how it differs with are modern times like you have a chapter on mars and then nothing after about that really seemed strange.
I hope you remember in book to give foundationly historical aspects to show how we got to that point for technology or locations has when you don’t it fills like you make new things has you go with no context to great a world a reader can see how it all connects.
P.S.
Any kaiju in future books?
Lay use the promise of a future to get into the how of technology and genetic engineering get things to happen. I fill you rushed to into has you at times give a world with no insight into how it differs with are modern times like you have a chapter on mars and then nothing after about that really seemed strange.
I hope you remember in book to give foundationly historical aspects to show how we got to that point for technology or locations has when you don’t it fills like you make new things has you go with no context to great a world a reader can see how it all connects.
P.S.
Any kaiju in future books?
August 26, 2025
Wow
Buckle up, bookworms! This literary rollercoaster is primed to become the next page-turning saga that'll have you begging for more. Packed with more adrenaline than a caffeine-fueled squirrel and more plot twists than a pretzel factory, this book serves up characters so lovable you'll want to invite them for dinner, and villains so deliciously despicable you'll be plotting their downfall between chapters. My reading radar is already pinging with anticipation for the next installment - consider me officially hooked!!
Buckle up, bookworms! This literary rollercoaster is primed to become the next page-turning saga that'll have you begging for more. Packed with more adrenaline than a caffeine-fueled squirrel and more plot twists than a pretzel factory, this book serves up characters so lovable you'll want to invite them for dinner, and villains so deliciously despicable you'll be plotting their downfall between chapters. My reading radar is already pinging with anticipation for the next installment - consider me officially hooked!!
June 23, 2025
A Wild and Intense Read!
The author does a great job of setting the stage and developing characters and story line. The plot is based in the not too distant future. Who knows what types of scientific discoveries will happen in the years to come. The one thing that never changes is human nature and it is on full display in this story. A thought provoking read and a well crafted story.
The author does a great job of setting the stage and developing characters and story line. The plot is based in the not too distant future. Who knows what types of scientific discoveries will happen in the years to come. The one thing that never changes is human nature and it is on full display in this story. A thought provoking read and a well crafted story.
June 14, 2025
Received a digital copy from a GoodReads giveaway.
An intriguing mixture of genetic apocalypse woven with a potential technological overlord and traditional political machinations which combine for an engrossing tail with a number of potential subplots available for exploration in further volumes.
An intriguing mixture of genetic apocalypse woven with a potential technological overlord and traditional political machinations which combine for an engrossing tail with a number of potential subplots available for exploration in further volumes.
March 6, 2026
Surreal! What-if...
Browning's characters all but breathe. Y are there! You experience the intensity of the situation as it unfolds, in "real time." For those who can't get enough apocalyptic reads, this is one you don't want to miss. It felt like an out-of-body experience. A real page turner!
Browning's characters all but breathe. Y are there! You experience the intensity of the situation as it unfolds, in "real time." For those who can't get enough apocalyptic reads, this is one you don't want to miss. It felt like an out-of-body experience. A real page turner!
July 13, 2025
A new twist on this genre novel. I enjoyed it and hope I can remember the story by the time the next one comes out. I marked it down one star because of editing. I think this author should definitely have a publishing house working with him. He is that good.
July 16, 2025
07/16/25
Still a lil over 2hrs left in this book. VERY Military forward. More about espionage and world war than the actual monsters taking over the world. Talks of war, foreign dictators, and assassinations.
Still a lil over 2hrs left in this book. VERY Military forward. More about espionage and world war than the actual monsters taking over the world. Talks of war, foreign dictators, and assassinations.
August 16, 2025
Great story
What a great story. Now if only you had had some good beta readers or a good editor! And good editing software. Still you have a solid storyline and I am looking forward to the next book
What a great story. Now if only you had had some good beta readers or a good editor! And good editing software. Still you have a solid storyline and I am looking forward to the next book
May 23, 2025
Drags on. Not much action till the end.
June 9, 2025
trans mortifications
A new take on an old idea. Viruses. Instead of going forward, they’re going backwards. Hero’s, ships and bad guys. What will happen next?
A new take on an old idea. Viruses. Instead of going forward, they’re going backwards. Hero’s, ships and bad guys. What will happen next?
July 13, 2025
loved it. can't wait for the next one
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews