Panic O'Clock

by Christopher Hodder-Williams

The line went dead. Diana thought, This can’t be real. I’m going to wake up in a minute and find it’s all a mad dream. ‘One of those writers on whom critics have already lavished almost every word of praise possible’ BBC RADIO 2 Diana Keeling is a woman who faces the world with practised equanimity, acting out the role of wife and mother on her neat estate to perfection. One day a cryptic, urgent telephone call from her scientist husband breaks the bubble of normality. Panic has begun… Victims of a new drug Estofort are doing the unthinkable. They are hurtling to their deaths like lemmings. It is PANIC O’CLOCK. What follows is a complex and perplexing science fiction mystery, delivered by renowned author Christopher Hodder-Williams. Praise for Christopher ‘Panic O’Clock secures for its author a comfortable place among the best catastrophe writers — Verne, Wyndham and Wells.’ – Times Literary Supplement ‘Well told and thrilling and — what is rare in tales of this kind — the end is entirely satisfactory.’ – Kingsley Amis, Daily Mail 'Both humanly and scientifically plausible. Read and be scared’ The Sun ‘Horrible plausibility.’ – Punch ‘Mr. Hodder-Williams handles this way-out material most expertly’ Glasgow Herald ‘Great fun’ The Daily Telegraph ‘Millions of us, may some day have reason to thank Christopher Hodder-Williams for the vividness of his imagination (or the clarity of his vision).’ – She Magazine Christopher Hodder-Williams was an English writer, mainly of science fiction, but he wrote novels about aviation and espionage as well. Before his career in writing, Hodder-Williams joined the army in 1944, and served in the Middle East and lived in Kenya and New York, later settling in the UK. Many of his books are early examples of what would later be called techno-thrillers. He also worked as a composer and lyricist, and wrote numerous plays for television.

Genres: Science Fiction

297 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 29, 1973

About the author

Christopher Hodder-Williams was an English writer, mainly of science fiction, but he wrote novels about aviation and espionage as well. Before his career in writing, Hodder-Williams joined the army in 1944, and served in the Middle East and lived in Kenya and New York, later settling in the UK. Many of his books are early examples of what would later be called techno-thrillers. He also worked as a composer and lyricist, and wrote numerous plays for television.

Reviews

[Alien · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disaster novel from the 70´s. People get crazy, kill themselves. The "disease" is spreading incredibly fast. The whole country (England) is devastated.
There's a drug that prevents the "infection", but it is new and there is only a very limited stock available.
The administration is helpless and the top people are blackmailed into submission by a man who gains control of nearly all the stocks of the drug.
There are a few people who try to fight the disease on their own. And it seems that it is not a virus but s.th. else.

My thoughts: I did not like it much. The idea behind this "diseaese" turns out to be less than convincing. I was finishing this book mainly to find out what exactly that was and got disappointed.

Another problem I had, was that I could not relate to the protagonists much. I did not like them particularly.
Always apparent in many older books is the dated outlook on women. While the author stresses several times how brave the women are, they are still a bit like children. Always dependent on their men.

All in all I was not very satisfied with this book and glad when I had finished it.

[MR CHRISTOPHER · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good solid story

I am working my way through Christopher Hodder-williams books, and can honestly say that in most of the previous books it was hard work. This one, however, was a much more readable story.

[Venture Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is published by Venture Press.