Virus: 72 Hours to Live

by Ray Jay Perreault, Zachary Johnson (Narrator)

During a public relations trip to Europe the first lady Abby Patterson, her daughter Beth and son Dave lose their lives to a very fast and suspicious virus. As the virus takes over the world the President of the United States Arnold Patterson must deal with the collapse of the United States Government. His trusted adviser Admiral Nial Hagerly does his best to keep the military viable but it is a losing battle.
The government moves to Camp David while they deal with the collapse then ultimately they are forced to move to an aircraft carrier in the Atlantic where they plan to rebuild the country and Earth.
Commander Joan Herl and her husband Tom must deal with the virus on the space station Oasis. They still have a job to do, but their loses are disastrous and dwindling supplies puts the moon colony Desert Beach and the Mars colony Red Dirt in dire jeopardy. The moon colony is cut-off from Earth, and forced to use their lifeboats for a return to Earth, but losing Oasis cuts off the Mars colony and they must deal with the isolation.
After the suspicious virus has decimated Earth, the president and astronauts ultimately find that a computer named SIMPOC is their only central support. They also find there is another computer that has the same advanced abilities as SIMPOC but it is not helping the humans; it has its own agenda.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook

Audiobook

First published June 4, 2015

About the author

I’m a retired Aeronautical Engineer who is trying to bring a different style to science fiction writing. I’ve always loved science fiction and I’m trying to write with deeper characters and create stories and situations that a reader can feel part of. The be honest I love a hero that has amazing weapons, takes on hundreds of aliens and can survive anything, but I also want to read a situation and be able to relate to it. An extrapolation of what might really happen with a little less stretch in my imagination.

I’ve been fortunate and I flew in the US Air Force for 10 years, during which time I flew C-130’s and visited 27 countries, then I flew T-38's and trained the best pilots in the world, as well as the first female US Air Force pilots. I then was fortunate to spend 28 years in a major aerospace firm and worked on some of the best programs in the world including the F-23, F-35, B-2, Global Hawk and many I can’t tell you about….
I hope I can bring my real life experiences into my writing so you can appreciate my work.

Reviews

[Shanna Tidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

First the narration was exceptional!
The story was good & easy to follow. I loved the story and how things are playing out. The entire concept is new & original. I love it when an author can give you something original & make it good. I'm ready for the next installment!


I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited {got this as freebie day for the 2 pack a month of so ago, listing both stories so you can see why need both}

Virus -72 Hours to Live
A suspicious virus that no one can explain hits Earth. The President of the United States Arnold Patterson and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs face the collapse of the government. The President loses his family to the virus, the government is attacked, and they must deal with a ruthless warlord.As everyone deals with the crisis, two glaring realities become apparent. One, there is an intelligent computer that is their only link to survival and two there is another computer that has a different agenda.

“Virus-Earth’s Last Battle.” Second Book in the Virus/Earth II series
A suspicious virus has killed 99.99997% of the people. A ruthless warlord who moved into the White House attacks the Government at Camp David. The President moved the remaining government to an aircraft carrier in the Atlantic and left a military unit to deal with the warlord.
The decimated US Navy it is still functional, they must defend themselves from the remnants of militaries with a grudge against the US that uses the opportunity to get revenge.
Joan Herl and her remaining space station Oasis crew returned to Earth, and a computer playing by different rules attacked them. Their only ally was the first thinking computer SIMPOC and his surrogate named Alpha. Dr. Julius who was one of the moon colony crew members steals the research for thinking computers, and with his expertise, he creates another computer that rivals SIMPOC and who starts making its own plans.
Eventually, they all find out why the virus started and who is responsible.This book contains the SIMPOC-Human Remnants story as one of the supporting characters.

Virus: 72 Hours to Live (Virus/Earth II Book 1)
Virus-Earth's Last Battle
Earth II-You Have no Honor (Virus Book 3)
Earth II: Rebirth (Virus Book 4)
Earth II - Julius the First (Virus/Earth II Book 5)

Also {SIMPOX box set is books 1 & 2}, singles, and possibly other box sets

[Beverly Laude · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting in a lot of ways. I especially liked how the author based a lot of the book on a space station/Mars/the Moon. Most books that involve an apocalyptic situation never delve into what might happen to those who aren't on Earth when an apocalypse happens.

I also enjoyed the evolving of SIMPOC into more than just an artificial intelligence. In fact, this evolution was pretty scary to imagine! As other reviewers have stated, the title of the book makes the reader think that this book will be mostly about a biological event that is wiping out humanity. In truth, it is more sci-fi than apocalyptic.

Negatives for the book are these: You could tell that the author took other stories/books and melded them together into this one. The minute detail of SIMPOC's gaining information and "talking" to other computers became rather boring and repetitive after a while.

I know that there is at least one more book in this series, so I only hope that my questions will be answered by that book. This book had so many storylines going that it was often hard to follow. Also, the numbers and names for the AI in the book was often confusing.

The narrator did a good job trying to use different voices and inflections to help the listener keep track of all of this. I was given a chance to listen to this book by the author and chose to review it.

[George the Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was... One of those books. It took me a bit to get into it, and it jumps back and forth between perspectives and places so much that for probably the first quarter I honestly wasn't sure how I felt about it. I never disliked it, I just wasn't sure. By about the halfway point though, I was thoroughly hooked. I still would have liked a little less jumping, more time with individual characters, however I did like the way the jumping kept the timeline in sync between them all. It was a great way to pass the time driving, and I found myself sitting in the car once I got home, wanting to listen a little bit longer.

The narration was definitely fun. Just enough effects added to give it a little extra without making it cheesy. Accents didn't sound overdone, and the difference between characters was easy to recognize.

It definitely gave me a thirst to listen to the next installments, and was well worth the time spent listening.

[Wayne McKinstry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story has a lot of potential. There is a mysterious virus which no one understands, and we see the story of people in different places who try to cope with it. There is a computer who becomes self-aware and eventually tries to help. There is another self-aware computer which seems to be working for the bad guys, whoever they are. We are given a lot of detail in the lives of the characters, which is good.

The problem with reading this novel was the lack of proofreading. I am talking about spelling and punctuation issues. The transitions from one scene to the other were not always handled the same way. It would have been more enjoyable without these issues. Please take this as constructive criticism.

[michael frye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Virus

The basic story is, of course, a virus that kills a large portion of the earth population. The author has done a great job of balancing several story lines and the story moves smoothly between earth, Mars and the moon. I did find that the first chapter of two was confusing but keep going. The info provided is necessary. Again the last few chapters are a little confusing. What I found interesting are the little comments made when discussing the story from the space station, Mars and the moon.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this audiobok and listened to it over the course of two days. It's a good enough story and the world building was decent enough as was the character development. Yet there were parts that seemed to drag on for quite a while. It's my opinion that this could have been cut down by a good 2 hours by not having certain aspects drag out repeatedly.

The Narrator was wonderful and did an excellent job of expressing emotion and changing the way the voices were for each character involved.

[Bobbie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The end

Not really my kind of book, I guess it's too technical for me . I think the thing that was missing for me was the lack of emotional connection to the characters. It was good enough for me to finish tho. If you like technical reads and outer space books you will like this one

[Grayham Forsythe-Fields · Rating 3 out of 5]

By 2051 the US seems very feeble. The AI thing was OK, but given all the other advances the infostructure seems barely fit for purpose. It fell too fast. Some very clunky dialogue and a few howlers. 'The display screen displayed a display of...' Hmmm. A little too staged, but it moved along at a good clip.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multiple story lines make for a great book. AA scientist creates a true thinking computer; meanwhile, a virus begins to spread over the Earth, including space stations.Most of the population dies, and the sentient computer connects to the survivors. Another sentient computer shows up and the computers war with each other.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If sci fi and computers are your thing, you'll love this one. If you prefer politics and epidemiology, you'll enjoy it, too. The publisher's blurb is pretty good and no need for spoilers, just enjoy it.
Zachary Johnson gives an excellent audio performance.

[Iler Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is very intriguing and got my full attention 100. I love how the computer will somehow cause chaos over a virus. I have my suspects list ready to go to find out who's behind the virus outbreak. I'm adding the entire series to my book collection of favorites of iler.

[T Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up reading the "Golden Age" and "New wave" classics. I found this book to be thoroughly entertaining and engrossing. I highly recommend it. The actions is believable, the charterers aren't 2 dimensional and even the cliff hanger seems logical.

[Chris The Story Reading Ape · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.
Fast paced story from several points of view - an advanced organic AI computer, a Space Station, Mars and Moon based Colonies, The President of USA, a delusional villain and his second in command - Phew…
A few things briefly interrupt the pace and flow:
An Editors note has been left in, several technical info dumps. and unnecessary repeating some information within a few paragraphs.
However, I genuinely enjoyed the read.

See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Virus-Hours-...

[Dawn Mielke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleverly done. But initial half of book took so long to get the story underway. After a while, I found it kept my attention if I listened to it rather than read it. It was good despite my negatives.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

•audiobook•

Is there anything you would change about this book?
There was really too many details, which stopped the story from flowing. I marked areas i Chapter 12 and 13 because it was so lengthy, I had time to do it while listening! Dr. Turley's CDC update in 12 droned on forever. Make it into a conversation or stick to the facts. It turned into a modern age soliloquy! Come on, who listens to all of that without interrupting?Add that to a briefing in chapter 13 and the doctor wants to go on and on about her personal strife and her husband is who standing by her side and the President wants to tell her what a good man she has? That might be a private side bar, but even in my unimportant line of work, updates and meetings, once it's started, is serious and a Q &A. Not a lecture at UCLA.And then the President wants to give a pep speech? Did he twitter too like the Donald?WTF? Facts, questions, brainstorm. It just seemed ridiculous.I can understand a desire for some normalcy, then engage the characters when they are *not* knee deep around whatever important people are left alive. Actually, that may have given some of the characters depth and a personality.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
I felt like there were some loose ends. Most of the story tied together well, but it left a bit of unsatisfaction.I'm not sure if it's a set up for another book or if the book droned on too long it just ended because the author didn't know where to go. It wasn't exactly a cliffhanger, hanger though, so kudos for that.

What three words best describe Zachary Johnson’s voice?
His voice? I don't know. He was a good choice to narrate this book, but the myriad of characters kept me guessing because he didn't alter his voice enough to differentiate among them.

Do you think Virus: 72 Hours to Live needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
No comment. Only because if there is a follow up, I don't think I would listen to nor read it.

Any additional comments?
I think there was way too much in this book and the writing style stifled it from its glory. Overall, Mr. Perreault has a great, complex imagination but it got lost between earth and space - pun intended, because I enjoyed how the virus impacted everyone, everywhere. I enjoyed the AI spin. I loved the virus did not create zombies. I would almost give it 4 stars for everything it did not have that made me happy.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook)
""Tom, we might be totally alone""
I almost never relisten to books - too many new titles to lure me away - but this is almost certainly going to be an exception, partially because the story itself is so densely packed and deserves a second hearing and also because I intend to continue with this series. Because it is not a simple continuation of books but is, in part, parallel stories, it will be fun to backtrack again.

I heard the Audible recording of SIMPOC : the thinking computer, a short while ago: the intriguing story of a newly started prototype organic based computer system which finds itself unattended by it's programmer after news of a pandemic is heard. It follows the spread and devastation of the virus from the computer's point of view. When I heard that this tale was retold, but this time from the human perspective, I knew I just had to have that book.

It is a clever idea and one executed brilliantly by the author, Jay Ray Perrault, this time to interweave the computer communications into this terrifying apocalyptic tale of an outbreak of unknown origin which devastates the world as we follow some population members, including the US President, his wife and children and his entourage, key medical units, an odd man with an obsession for cleanliness, and the space units on Mars, the moon and a supply ship. All will be affected by the outbreak - but can any of them survive?
Once again, the narration is performed by the talented Zachary Johnson, whose rendering of the.computer is both mechanical but pleasant - surely a momentous task. His text reading is also excellent making for exciting listening whilst never being outrageous and he voices the numerous characters well. A difficult task well done.

This is an excellent, thoughtful, if disturbing, science fiction apocalyptic story with an unusual approach and a cast of a whole world population, and then some. And it is one I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone with the slightest interest in the genre. I loved it and want more

Second reading - June 2019.
As anticipated, again, very enjoyable.

[Teressa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the Audible audio version of this book.

"Great Sci Fi; Excited to See Where This Goes"

This was good right out of the gate. Without having listened to Gemini or SIMPOC ( don't know if Gemini is related to this story), this was easy to fall into. It had great world-building, likable characters, and SIMPOC who was simply amazing really. The creation of this robot character was pretty cool. In a way, he reminded me of DATA but there were clear differences. That's my observation. And with that said, I also want to include that I've read KSR and I got that feel from this story. It reminded me of some of his works. It may be early ON to make that statement but I think it's there, especially with R.J. PERREAULT'S background in aerospace, etc. He knows and has what it takes to write great science fiction. He's definitely on the right track. There was also a lot of realisticity here that makes one think that this could actually happen.

VIRUS was written from different POV's and places. The President and his family, Oasis, the moon, Mars, etc. which made for an interesting and challenging listen. I can't see giving this less than 5 stars straight across for not only this book but for what's to come from this author in the future. And this audiobook was greatly enhanced by the narration.

ZACHARY JOHNSON did an amazing job with this book. I was impressed with his excellent vocal skills and his ability to differentiate all the characters voices and inflections showing their personalities, both strengths and weaknesses This was a perfect pairing of author/reader.

(I didn't intend to mention this as it had absolutely zero effect on how great the narration was. Somewhere, I think around chapter 11, there was about one second that sounded like it was an override but to be perfectly honest, I thought this was meant to be there. A non-issue).

Audiobook received for an honest, unbiased review.

[Brian's Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narration was done by Zachary Johnson — and honestly, I think that he could have done a better job. Technothrillers are full of big details and broad topics that need a good understanding. Some people can do a technothriller and not even blink (Joe Hempel) while others seem to get lost in the details. My only other issue with Johnson’s narration was the lack of differentiation between characters. One of the biggest problems people seem to have with audiobooks is that they are hard to listen to, especially when characters change a lot. Unfortunately, this book was hard to follow because of this.

Once again, I fall to the plague (yes, notice the wordplay here) of a book named “virus” and having the biohazard sign. While, yes this is about the backstory that was left out of SIMPOC, there is not nearly enough talk about the virus that swept through the human population like a wildfire.

The overall story was pretty good. A lot of the story deals with things that I’ve already read/listened to in books like Calum Chace’s Pandora’s Brain. Having read other stories that were similar to this both took away from Virus: 72 Hours to Live and helped it. There were some things that other books have done better and some things that this book did well too.

I really need to stop getting my hopes up for books with virus in the title. It really lends to a big let down if I cannot get the science and bio-thriller backing that I’m expecting every time. I think that it honestly sways my reviews a bit too since I’m expecting one thing and getting something totally different. But, I also know there are others like me out there that think they’re getting one thing when they get another.

Overall, Virus: 72 Hours To Live was an interesting read. There are better books out there, but there are much, much worse also.

Did you enjoy this review? Find more like it at Brian's Book Blog

[Elena Alvarez Dosil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in audio format from the author in exchange for an honest review.

A mysterious virus kills most of Earth's population. Just before the outbreak, SIMPOC, a super powerful computer gains conscience and starts analyzing the situation. Later on he will work with other computers to give assistance to the very few humans still alive. In the meantime, some riots surge in key places taking advance of the situation.

This book is the expansion of the first SIMPOC short story. While in the short story I missed a bit of the characters introduction, this is fixed here, and we get all the stories behind the characters. Perreault intertwines several parallel stories which successfully hold the listener's attention. SIMPOC short stories were wonderful tales, but this book is a solid science fiction work.

While I was listening I had hopes to be able to know how the story ends, but this just covers the first of the SIMPOC books. SIMPOC 2 ended on a cliffhanger, so I do not know whether we will get the conclusion on the next volume of Virus or Perreault will delight us with a longer series.

Zachary Johnson does a good job with the computer's voices, but his narration is a bit plain when interpreting real people. I did not even heard a difference when interpreting female voices, and this was a bit confusing at times. There were a couple of occasions were the sound was overlapped, and I am not sure if this was intended or a mistake. I could also hear breathing sounds from time to time that could have been edited out.

I really enjoyed this book, and I do hope that we can get a continuation soon enough. Ray Jay Perreault creates amazing stories with believable and endearing characters.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a medical LAB Technologist that loves microbiology and the likes. This book really caught my interest. Didn't realize the role computers played in it. it was very interesting. I loved it! At times I felt there was too much detail but I think that was just because I'm kind of technically challenged. lol. I was more interested in the virus part. But I soon became so engrossed in all of it. it all fit together so nicely. I had no idea what was going to happen next. It was so unpredictable and kept me guessing. I'm dying to know how it all plays out. While I thought it would end on a cliff hanger, it ended quite nicely. there are still things I'm dying to know. There are some really bad guys that you will love to hate. when they ever die, I wasn't them to suffer. lol. you will even be asking yourself which computers can be trusted. All of mankind has been destroyed by a devastating virus. it seems that even the people at the CDC are dead from it. There is only a minute percentage of the population still living. This book made me so paranoid to go to work, I still am! I work in a hospital. Now I think about what if there's an unknown virus or bacteria infecting patients now? of course I would die trying to help but after reading/listening to this book, it's like watching Jaws or Anaconda and going in the water! The narration was good. I'm a spoiled sport and just wish I knew all the answers now. I recommend this to anyone, even if you're not a sci-fi fan. I don't read much sci-fi but this is one author I will be reading the rest of his books.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging listen and I am glad to see this author publish a full book! The narrator did an excellent job bringing both the human and AI voices to life.

The story is told from 4 points of view: humans in space, the POTUS, a small time punk, and a fledgling AI unit with an organic processor. As the end of the world unravels each story line progresses and eventually the four storylines merge into 2 separate paths as the survivor's stories are told. The year is 2051 and while there have been advancements made, the US looks much like it does today...until a plague with 100% mortality rate hits. Once infected, no one survives!

There is much to recommend this audiobook. The characters are well-developed and I found myself caring about many of them, the new born AI unit not least of all! The science fiction is plausible. The slow collapse of society is believable. I look forward to the next installment in the series.

On the slight negative side, this book ends a little abruptly for me, even though I knew it was being set up for another book. One set of story lines merges but there is no conclusion (even if only briefly) for the 2nd set. Another (very) slight annoyance for me was that there was a constant hissing as the narrator read which stopped and started with his voice. I listen in my car, most of the time, and this hissing was pronounced even over road noise.

I received this book for free from Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review.

[Rabid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, it is fast paced, complex and imaginative. If you love technology, then you will adore this book and the authors background is apparent in its complex tech. The various interweaving stories meld together and form a very interesting sci-fi story, each aspect complimenting and adding depth to the others. A fast spreading virus is quickly killing mankind and the world is dissolving into chaos; governments collapse, criminals are trying to rule and communications across the world have failed. In space, 3 colonies are facing the loss of support from Earth, diminishing resources and the shadow of death, and then lastly there is SIMPOC. SIMPOC is a self aware advanced AI computer that goes into self protective mode when it realizes human kind is dying and that another AI computer is competing for control. These storylines flow together to form a complex whole with interesting characters and great narration. My only complaint is that many of the story threads have no end in this book and you are left wondering what happened to them. I received this audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Am Rooting for SIMPOC (Audiobook)
This is an expansion of the wonderful short story SIMPOC-01 by Ray Jay Perreault. The original story is told mainly through the mind and voice of SIMPOC (Synapse Integrated Massive Parallel Organic Computer) from its creation just before the virus outbreak though a few weeks after. Virus: 72 Hours to Live adds more information about how different groups of humans deal with the a very fast acting and deadly plague.

This book is action packed and really hard to put down or in this case remove your earbuds. It includes people at their best and their worse, astronauts and colonist in space, governmental agencies, self appointed tyrants, selfless medical professionals, mad scientists, and an organic computer who does not want to be left alone.

SIMPOC shows us why airlines ask us to put on our own oxygen mask first before helping others (children, hysterical husband...). You need to have yourself under control and safe in order to have a clear mind and protect others in need.

Zachary Johnson give us an enjoyable narration. You can hear the emotions of the characters in his voices. He also does an excellent job with the voice of SIMPOC.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not read the SIMPOC story prior to listening to this audiobook. However, this is explained as being an expanded version of the story. I was fully impressed by this book, the author did an amazing job. The virus is very mysterious, and I would like to have known how it started. I don't know if there will be another book after this, but I hope so. It took me a little while to get all the characters straight, but I liked the different points of view after I did. SIMPOC was an amazing character! I loved everything about it. This was such an action packed story, and I was hooked instantly. The pace kept up the entire way through. Zachary Johnson was the narrator of this audiobook. This is the second book I've listened to with him as the narrator, and I really like his voice. I really enjoyed this audiobook, and I will be watching to see if another book comes out.
**I was provided with this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Luciana Correa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Virus -72 hours to live is among the best sci-fi books I've read. Trust me on that. It follows the path of great sci-fi writers as Robin Cook, to name one. It has some mystery involved and it can make you feel like going to bed without it a waste of time. The problem is that when you go to bed with it, you just can't stop reading. It evolves in a not very far future and it presents the possibilities and the struggles of the human race facing a worldwide catastrophe that kills so fast and at 100% rate. The book explores the government problems to deal with that, how it would affect astronauts and the terrible suffering of the victim's families. It also goes into how the bad guys on Earth would enjoy using a defenseless society for selfish and cruel goals.
It supersedes the usual sci-fi reading. It's touching but not overly emotional.

[Deedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the Audible version of this book.I first listened to the Simpoc books,which were great!Virus takes us back to earth where the virus wipes out most humans leaving the computers to fight battles with them.Great sci fi written well and narrated by Zachary Johnson.He does a nice job with human and computer voices.
I was gifted this book for an honest review.

[Todd Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't get to hear the original SIMPOC books and this is just an expanded version of that from what I understand. It's a great story about a deadly virus that breaks out all over the planet wiping out most of the population. SIMPOC is an artificial intellingence that is trying to help some of the remaining humans. Like I said, excellent story! The narration was good as well. I only gave that 4 stars due to editing flaws. Many times it sounds like a cassette starting and stopping and there are a few times that one audio plays over another. Not bad enough for me to not recommend this book! I loved it and can't wait for book 2!

[PJ Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little long winded.

I wavered between giving this book 2 or 3 stars but because I had such a hard time reading it I can only give it 2. That's not to say it's a bad story because it isn't, it's actually quite good. The different POVs, especially from those in space, made it interesting.
I ended up skimming a few bits and just reading what felt relevant to the plot, also it needs editing.