SERUM: A disease-free world comes at a deadly cost

by Dennis Ogden

In 1999, during East Timor's violent struggle for independence, Australian marine biologist Professor Marcus Glasson watched helplessly as a brutal militia leader abducted eight-year-old Noi de Jesus.
It takes eighteen years for him to fulfil his promise to rescue her. What he discovers could help him achieve his dream.
A rare sea worm, found in the volcanic vents under the Banda Sea, is the source of a serum that, when administered to pregnant lab mice renders their offspring immune to all known diseases. The immunity is passed on through following generations, offering the hope of a disease-free world.
Discovering the rescued Noi is newly pregnant, Marcus Glasson sees his chance to test the serum on a human and achieve his dying gift to the world.
As the unborn child's father was her sadistic abductor, Noi is taken to Yeppoon, Queensland for her safety. There, Marcus succumbs to years of self-testing his own experiments and dies.
Noi is now alone in a strange land with no ID.
Fooled by an offer of help, she is violently assaulted.
As she lies comatose in hospital, the police pigeonhole her as an illegal Asian sex worker and pass the case to the Department of Immigration, where researcher Kailee Banks must decide the girl's origin.
What she uncovers sets her, Noi and her unborn baby on a dangerous course.
The estranged adult son and daughter from the Professor's failed marriage have their hopes of a rich inheritance shattered when they learn their father has been living a secret life in Dili, and a codicil has been added to his Will. They conspire with the baby's father for a mutually beneficial outcome.
Death, greed, corruption, betrayal and the race to find another worm threaten the survival of Noi and her miracle baby.
It takes the Banda Sea to determine the outcome.

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 6, 2020

About the author

Born Melbourne, Australia in 1945. My first job was in a printing company and that is when I became addicted to ink on paper and paper cuts. After a stretch overseas I started up a graphic design studio and among my design projects were book designs. So print and books have always been, and still are, part of my life.
I first attempted writing in the early 70s with an original screenplay for a twenty-minute short feature film THE FORGOTTEN SPIRIT. It was produced and had cinema and cable TV release.
A series of articles on design followed and more on travel, which I have done widely.
GOOSE HUNT is a revised edition of my first novel SECRETSINCITY by my pen name Deray Ogden published in 2013.
SAVING SPADE is my second novel. I have two other projects that in the works. One, a saga, has been with me for fifteen years or more but pushed aside (again) to write SERUM: A disease-free world comes at a deadly cost. On sale April 6, 2020.

I now live on the Australian Sunshine Coast were the weather is gentler on the creative mind.

Reviews

[BooksCoffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ogden creates an intriguing ocean world in his engrossing latest SF novel.

Eighteen years after her abduction, broken and pregnant Noi de Jesus joins the marine biologist Professor Marcus Glasson, her father’s close friend, to Yeppoon, Queensland after a daring rescue operation organized by the brilliant professor and his allies. Trying to completely erase traces of her abductor’s DNA from her unborn child’s genes, Noi undergoes an experimental procedure and becomes the target of a group of powerful people.

Noi’s journey from an 8-year-old abducted child to a sex slave who’s constantly at the mercy of her abductor and a grown woman who is forced to carry weight of the world on her fragile shoulders is courageous.

An intriguing storyline, informative yet upbeat scientific jargon, and a unique, beautifully imagined setting make this smoothly paced tale a pleasantly enjoyable read.

Science fiction lovers looking for a lighthearted read will be pleased.

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book involved new species and brilliant new serums. Noi is injected with one of these new serums, which has some surprising side affects. There are several characters that I really liked (Evelyn- Though it's a strange name for a guy.) Marcus, the brilliant scientist that is trying to help all of humanity, and the beautiful but tortured Noi. There are also several characters that bordered on hate, such as Aswar and Conrad. And even some characters that I didn't know how to feel about them, like the ruthless Harper who ends up having a change of heart. There is international travel, ruthless killers, a bit of romance, and some mystery. I enjoyed this story and am curious about what happens next. It does have some sensitive subjects (rape and child abuse) so I want to give a trigger warning here. While the story is interesting and the premise was a good one. I feel like it could have been edited better. I found at least 50 errors, and thus the 3 star rating.

[KatSav · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story, fascinating setting, interesting premise

This is a ripping story set against a fascinating time and place following the painful birth of the nation of Timor-Leste. This is a history whose ongoing dilemmas and trauma can only be guessed at by those on the outside, but it comes starkly to life here. Multiple strands on themes of morality, family and loyalty, politics and the burden of  "otherness" are woven together into a tense, fast-moving tale with a totally unexpected finale. Highly recommended, and doubly relevant now when we are wondering about the race to find a vaccine for the current pandemic.

[Kelley Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was something different and a perfect pandemic read. The characters were easy to connect with and the story flowed keeping my attention. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Anthony Philosophos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. It was an action packed plot that does not stop. I liked the setting and the characters.