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A War of Shadows
In California, the victims are blind. In Maine, severely retarded. Small towns across America are being systematically "wiped out" by terrorists and their campaign of germ warfare waged against the U.S. The President's only option seems to be an equally deadly counterattack.
314 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1979
2 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Jack L. Chalker
132 books354 followersBesides being a science fiction author, Jack Laurence Chalker was a Baltimore City Schools history teacher in Maryland for a time, a member of the Washington Science Fiction Association, and was involved in the founding of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society. Some of his books said that he was born in Norfolk, Virginia although he later claimed that was a mistake.
He attended all but one of the World Science Fiction Conventions from 1965 until 2004. He published an amateur SF journal, Mirage, from 1960 to 1971 (a Hugo nominee in 1963 for Best Fanzine).
Chalker was married in 1978 and had two sons.
His stated hobbies included esoteric audio, travel, and working on science-fiction convention committees. He had a great interest in ferryboats, and, at his wife's suggestion, their marriage was performed on the Roaring Bull Ferry.
Chalker's awards included the Daedalus Award (1983), The Gold Medal of the West Coast Review of Books (1984), Skylark Award (1985), Hamilton-Brackett Memorial Award (1979), as well as others of varying prestige. He was a nominee for the John W. Campbell Award twice and for the Hugo Award twice. He was posthumously awarded the Phoenix Award by the Southern Fandom Confederation on April 9, 2005.
On September 18, 2003, during Hurricane Isabel, Chalker passed out and was rushed to the hospital with a diagnosis of a heart attack. He was later released, but was severely weakened. On December 6, 2004, he was again rushed to hospital with breathing problems and disorientation, and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and a collapsed lung. Chalker was hospitalized in critical condition, then upgraded to stable on December 9, though he didn't regain consciousness until December 15. After several more weeks in deteriorating condition and in a persistent vegetative state, with several transfers to different hospitals, he died on February 11, 2005 of kidney failure and sepsis in Bon Secours of Baltimore, Maryland.
Chalker is perhaps best known for his Well World series of novels, the first of which is Midnight at the Well of Souls (Well World, #1).
He attended all but one of the World Science Fiction Conventions from 1965 until 2004. He published an amateur SF journal, Mirage, from 1960 to 1971 (a Hugo nominee in 1963 for Best Fanzine).
Chalker was married in 1978 and had two sons.
His stated hobbies included esoteric audio, travel, and working on science-fiction convention committees. He had a great interest in ferryboats, and, at his wife's suggestion, their marriage was performed on the Roaring Bull Ferry.
Chalker's awards included the Daedalus Award (1983), The Gold Medal of the West Coast Review of Books (1984), Skylark Award (1985), Hamilton-Brackett Memorial Award (1979), as well as others of varying prestige. He was a nominee for the John W. Campbell Award twice and for the Hugo Award twice. He was posthumously awarded the Phoenix Award by the Southern Fandom Confederation on April 9, 2005.
On September 18, 2003, during Hurricane Isabel, Chalker passed out and was rushed to the hospital with a diagnosis of a heart attack. He was later released, but was severely weakened. On December 6, 2004, he was again rushed to hospital with breathing problems and disorientation, and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and a collapsed lung. Chalker was hospitalized in critical condition, then upgraded to stable on December 9, though he didn't regain consciousness until December 15. After several more weeks in deteriorating condition and in a persistent vegetative state, with several transfers to different hospitals, he died on February 11, 2005 of kidney failure and sepsis in Bon Secours of Baltimore, Maryland.
Chalker is perhaps best known for his Well World series of novels, the first of which is Midnight at the Well of Souls (Well World, #1).
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 5, 2025
This is a novel about bio-terrorism used to mask a fascist takeover. The beginning is quite compelling, but it slows way down and drags until there's a clever wrap. It was either way ahead or behind its time, I'm not sure which. Not too bad but neither is it memorable.
April 17, 2008
Terrorists have unleashed a bacterial plague in small towns across America. In response to citizens' fear of this invisible enemy, the President declares marshal law and suspends civil liberties. But which will destroy America first - germ warfare or the emerging fascism? The race is on to unmask the real enemy before it's too late.
Frankly, it's hard to believe this little book was written 25 years ago!
This 1979 science fiction tale by Jack Chalker shows a world where lightening-fast computers, engineered germs, and sophisticated surveillance are a fact of life. But reading it today, it’s no longer a tale of terrifying technological and scientific marvels, but rather a fast-paced political thriller.
In a quick, yet gripping read, it shows how easy it is to give up personal liberties when you fear a nebulous enemy. And, how easy it is to create that fear, then divert its power for nefarious purposes.
For anyone who worries about how much freedom we’ve given up in the last few years and fears the ever encroaching suppression of our liberties, this is a must read.
Although out of print, “A War of Shadows” can be found at used book stores and on-line for less than the price of most new books.
Frankly, it's hard to believe this little book was written 25 years ago!
This 1979 science fiction tale by Jack Chalker shows a world where lightening-fast computers, engineered germs, and sophisticated surveillance are a fact of life. But reading it today, it’s no longer a tale of terrifying technological and scientific marvels, but rather a fast-paced political thriller.
In a quick, yet gripping read, it shows how easy it is to give up personal liberties when you fear a nebulous enemy. And, how easy it is to create that fear, then divert its power for nefarious purposes.
For anyone who worries about how much freedom we’ve given up in the last few years and fears the ever encroaching suppression of our liberties, this is a must read.
Although out of print, “A War of Shadows” can be found at used book stores and on-line for less than the price of most new books.
November 2, 2023
Have you ever seen Mickey Mouse threaten the president with a live grenade? Because now I have. Quality book
November 8, 2019
This book is one of my favorite reads. I keep an old tattered copy at my desk to reread passages now and then. The storyline has a solid intro and a neat twist that develops near the end. A novel of biological warfare, treachery, and courage. I recommend it to anyone. I have read several of Chalker's works, and this is my favorite. (I do like his Dancing Gods series, at least the first few).
January 11, 2012
Grade B.
January 25, 2025
The shadow of death passed through Cornwall, Nebraska, but it was such a nice day that nobody noticed.
May 10, 2025
This is one way to fight for democracy.
September 21, 2021
Terrorists use a plague as a cover to turn America into a fascist state, and along the way they hypnotize a woman into thinking she's four years old, because Chalker HAS to do a transformation thing in every book he writes. It was fascinating reading this woman escape them while thinking she's four and then it slowly wearing off, but I skimmed a lot of the rest because I didn't care.
Also TW for random rape. Offscreen but c'mon, no one needed that, she was already traumatized.
Also TW for random rape. Offscreen but c'mon, no one needed that, she was already traumatized.
October 16, 2010
Two books in one - one is compelling, fast-paced, and exciting. And the other is numbingly boring and pointless.
The first 60-80 pages is great, and pulls you in. And, if you're not comatose or skimming like crazy, the last 6-8 pages is also very good. To give credit where it's due, Chalker does come up with a unique resolution to a plot that seemed to be a fait accompli for the bad guys. (But I was skimming, so I wasn't sure at first and had to reread - I thought I had the bad guys mixed up.)
But the rest of the book is dreck. Characters that I don't care about, and whose actions I can't accept as likely, and plot devices that I find unlikely to take pace.
Be warned... Jack L. Chalker really only wrote a couple of decent books, and while this very early book is far, far superior to his later works, it's again a dismal reminder of the fact that the only Chalker you really need to read is the first few Well World books.
Interesting fact... every time I read a Chalker book, I always ask myself "which character will have their body altered this time?" Because every book Chalker writes, some character either ends up in a different body, or a surgically-altered (or drug-altered) body that affects the way they can function. And he didn't disappoint - I found the person in this book. So... it seems like Chalker really knows only one basic story, and tells that story in every book he writes, and just dresses it up a bit differently.
I would have given this 2 stars, but I did enjoy the beginning and the very end. The rest is only worth skimming.
The first 60-80 pages is great, and pulls you in. And, if you're not comatose or skimming like crazy, the last 6-8 pages is also very good. To give credit where it's due, Chalker does come up with a unique resolution to a plot that seemed to be a fait accompli for the bad guys. (But I was skimming, so I wasn't sure at first and had to reread - I thought I had the bad guys mixed up.)
But the rest of the book is dreck. Characters that I don't care about, and whose actions I can't accept as likely, and plot devices that I find unlikely to take pace.
Be warned... Jack L. Chalker really only wrote a couple of decent books, and while this very early book is far, far superior to his later works, it's again a dismal reminder of the fact that the only Chalker you really need to read is the first few Well World books.
Interesting fact... every time I read a Chalker book, I always ask myself "which character will have their body altered this time?" Because every book Chalker writes, some character either ends up in a different body, or a surgically-altered (or drug-altered) body that affects the way they can function. And he didn't disappoint - I found the person in this book. So... it seems like Chalker really knows only one basic story, and tells that story in every book he writes, and just dresses it up a bit differently.
I would have given this 2 stars, but I did enjoy the beginning and the very end. The rest is only worth skimming.
August 10, 2016
A series of bio-terrorist attacks on small towns across America leads inevitably to martial law and deep paranoia - the people demand not only protection; they demand that their rights be taken away for fear strangers have the same rights. An FBI laboratory finds that the viruses were designed on their own computer systems, leading to a frantic confrontation with the ever-present shadow government.
Chalker piles incident upon incident to compensate for a rather haggard prose style, elevating the book in substance if not in style. The plotting is curiously old-fashioned, but the cynical view of government is very much post-Watergate; really it's an old 50s thriller infected with Nixon and the rest.
Enjoyable though.
Chalker piles incident upon incident to compensate for a rather haggard prose style, elevating the book in substance if not in style. The plotting is curiously old-fashioned, but the cynical view of government is very much post-Watergate; really it's an old 50s thriller infected with Nixon and the rest.
Enjoyable though.
August 17, 2009
Mediocre fantasist Chalker does epidemiology thriller. Nothing to write home about.
Though I'm no fan of this sort of book, I must admit that Michael Crichton or whoever does it a lot better than this guy, who is better known for his pervy genre fiction (he's like Piers Anthony, but blander). Crichton, for one, would at least know his shit, and his erudition would compensate for the obvious plotting and thin characterization.
I suspect that this was a cynical bid for a broader readership.
Though I'm no fan of this sort of book, I must admit that Michael Crichton or whoever does it a lot better than this guy, who is better known for his pervy genre fiction (he's like Piers Anthony, but blander). Crichton, for one, would at least know his shit, and his erudition would compensate for the obvious plotting and thin characterization.
I suspect that this was a cynical bid for a broader readership.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews