1980: The Emergence of HIV

by David Cornish MD

Dr. Arthur Noble is a brilliant first-year medical resident in San Francisco, who has a stellar career ahead of him. However, all of Noble’s skills are put to the test when he encounters a strange new illness. The ailment seemingly appears out of nowhere, and serves its victims a most horrible and brutal death. Noble struggles to find answers to the medical mystery, even as many researchers and society refuse to believe it is a serious threat, or that it even exists. 1980 is an authentic medical story about a disease that will eventually have an unimaginable impact on the entire world.

457 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2018

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former medical writer, I remember this time in health care history well. The author captures the early recognition of HIV beautifully in a hybrid novel that meshes fact with fiction. The story is told through the character of Dr. Arthur Noble, whip-smart first-year medical resident in San Francisco ... ground zero for the proliferation of the disease in this country ... who finds himself faced with a new illness in his patients, one with a horrific trajectory.

As Noble works to determine what is ravaging those under his care, he encounters resistance from key players who deny its terrifying implications. It was a harrowing time in actuality, and the author, a physician himself, reflects that masterfully as this compelling story unfolds.

On a personal note, I lost a colleague and an extended family member to AIDS, so the story — one I highly recommend — has deep meaning for me.

Thanks to the author for the review copy; opinions are fully mine. Pub date: April 19, 2018. Available on Amazon.

#1980TheEmergenceOfHIV

[Please Pass the Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

1980: The Emergence of HIV by David Cornish, MD is a novel of historical fiction that begins with an introduction to the titular virus 14-million years prior on an East African island, and continues in a chronological and detailed timeline to its proliferation in the 1980's when the mortality rate stood at 100%. When Doctor Arthur Noble at Children's Hospital of San Francisco is asked to check on a patient named Alexander Horton, a chain of events kicks off with Noble at the helm of what initially appears to be an outbreak of Pneumocystis carinii – coined in the media as gay pneumonia - among homosexual men. Soon after, a patient he saved months prior named Sally Hightower is diagnosed with the syndrome as are others, including a young child, that lead Noble on a mission to “Follow the blood”...

1980: The Emergence of HIV is a wholly engrossing novel that brings the evolution of a long misunderstood and stigmatizing virus to the forefront. Delivered with an adept narrative that renders a sophisticated story with complex medical terms comfortable, David Cornish, MD writes with a skill reminiscent of Michael Crichton, blending factual events with fictional characters in a brilliant novel. The characters are all deeply developed and heavily layered, with just enough tension on each page to keep the level of suspense high despite knowing (to a certain degree) how the technical aspects of the story ends. I loved every page of this book and would award it a whole bucket of stars if that were possible.

Review written for Readers' Favorite.

[Chiek Er · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worthy half non-fiction/fiction adjunct to Randy Shirts’ masterpiece

“And the Band Played on” was my reference for comparison while reading Dr Cornish’s “1980 the emergence of HIV”. Apart from the first 3 chapters and the epilogue that interested me most because of the scientific theories on the evolution and species cross over by the HIV virus and the true events and statistics of HIV infection, the bulk of the 34 chapters were fictional, which was a distraction somewhat from the title. That’s ok. Because the author had Intended his story as largely fiction in the frame work of historical events. With fictitious character Dr Arthur Noble as the protagonist, working as a resident medical doctor in San Francisco, Dr Cornish gave us an added clearer clinical picture of an AIDS patient. Being a veterinarian myself, I love the medical jargons in the Novel. I felt there could have been greater depth to the novel if the author had given us more AIDS clinical cases to ponder over.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I say finished but that really means stopped reading it and got rid of it. Don't waste your time.