Review of The Antigen

[Rajnee Varma]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Antigen" by A.I. Fabler.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Antigen: The Seed of Corruption Pt 2 is the concluding part of the novel written by A. I. Fabler. Faraday, a painter of wildlife, and an American investigative journalist, Caroline, had valuable information that could take the world by storm. They had insider information from Caroline’s adopted brother, Tuan, that viruses were being deliberately manipulated in a lab in Hanoi, Vietnam, and were spread deliberately to water resources to initiate a bird flu pandemic. Caroline was writing the big story for the East Asia News Agency, EANA, but her employers needed proof. The three of them escaped Vietnam, dodging their pursuers, and reached London, but their lives were threatened; the story needed signed affidavits from the witnesses, and Caroline was not ready to back out.

The plot of the novel is far from simple. The main theme is journalism—its ethics, limitations, and the legal aspects. It also includes several other serious themes—the trade of counterfeit paintings, designing various mutants of viruses, contaminating drinking water to spread bird flu among humans and cattle, vaccines to be launched without proper testing, the greed of the big pharma companies, the insensitivity of the WHO personnel, the involvement of governments across the world, the twisted role of various institutions, and corruption—all connected with the common thread of greed for money. And yet the book offers suspense—murders, chases, espionage, hacking, insider trading, the dark web of the internet, and confessions.

The characters are crafted in great detail and realistically. Faraday is an acclaimed wildlife painter who specializes in endangered species and is known for his signature poems included in his paintings. He is practical, sensitive, and values relationships. His relationship with his childhood friend David is remarkably well-illustrated. Caroline is an independent, determined, conscientious woman and a whistleblower. Other characters also carry depth and contribute well to the storyline. However, I noticed that Tuan, the key character who possesses the insider information of the research work in the lab in Hanoi, and the main threat to the guilty parties, has very little exposure in the story. The novel is written in a style that is both descriptive and reflective. The author has given an insight into the world of journalism and how the network of international journalism works. The long conversations between the characters are informative and prompt the reader to contemplate moral journalism, the role of NGOs, and the fact that money is the most powerful incentive in most people’s lives. I did not notice any negative aspects of the book and do not see any reason to deduct a star. My rating of the book is 5 out of 5 stars.

The novel is meaningful, entertaining, and informative. Readers will not miss the first book much because the author has included a summary of it at the beginning, and that is very helpful. It is not a book limited to light entertainment only. I would suggest it to people who like serious themes and elaborate plots.

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The Antigen
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[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

Most people who read this book will think about the Covid pandemic, specifically how much money it made for some people and how suspicious its outbreak was. From the first page onward the prose draws you in. Thank you for sharing your review.

[Bertha Jackson]

The first thing I thought of when I saw this book and read its review was the recent COVID pandemic and how the media and government reacted. Thank you for your review.

[Seetha E]

This plot runs on realistic themes. Greed for money and power has long overtaken thoughts of common welfare. I would love to read this one and have added it to my reading list. Thanks for a comprehensive review.

[Sanju Lali]

One can find a entertaining, informative and meaningful story in the book "The Antigen" by A.I. Fabler. The story is about a painter of wildlife, and an American investigative journalist who had valuable information that could take the world by storm.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

"The Antigen: The Seed of Corruption Pt 2" dives into lab-made viruses, whistleblowers, and the dark side of global journalism. With fake vaccines, hacked networks, and pharma-fueled greed, it’s a smart, suspenseful look at how far corruption can go. Congratulations on being BOTD!

[Alida Spies]

There were many theories that the Covid virus was man made in a lab, so it's no surprise that this theme is pursued. The plot sounds intricate, with ethics of journalism, counterfeit paintings, designing viruses and others. Sounds like a great suspense thriller.

[Priscila Soares 1]

There have been numerous theories claiming that the Covid virus was engineered in a lab, so it's no surprise that this topic is being explored. The storyline appears to be layered, touching on themes like journalistic ethics, art forgery, virus creation, and more. It sounds like a gripping and well-crafted suspense thriller.

[Kibet Hillary]

I am glad that apart from the combination and interweaving of complex and enthralling themes, the book also provokes the reader to think about moral journalism. We live in a world that is increasingly becoming complex and any misinformation may lead to catastrophic outcomes, not to speak of disinformation. I look forward to reading the book.
Many thanks for the review, @Rajnee Varma.

[Joe Alex 2]

A thrilling and thought-provoking read that dives deep into the complexities of journalism, corruption, and greed, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat. The detailed characters and intense plot make it a standout, though I wish Tuan had more of a spotlight.

[Anu Anand]

This book sounds like a gripping ride through virus manipulation, pharma greed, and media pressure, all tied to a deadly bird flu conspiracy. I’m curious how Caroline and Faraday fight back while being hunted for the truth.

[NetMassimo]

This novel offers some food for thought about important themes. Inevitably, there's a comparison with the pandemic playing with some conspiracy theories to develop an intense plot with great protagonists who are investigating to find the truth. Thank you for your great review!

[Rupali Mishra]

Congrats on BOTD!
Exploring lab-created viruses, informants, and the shadowy side of international media, "The Antigen: The Seed of Corruption Pt 2" It's a clever, gripping look at how far malfeasance can go while dealing with phony vaccines, compromised systems, and pharmaceutical-fueled greed.

[Manang Muyang]

The book comes free today. I am a huge medical thriller fan. So I'm in for the ride with Faraday, Caroline and Tuan.

[Harshitha G B]

"The Antigen" by A.I. Fabler explores the core of how the Medical world running in lab created viruses and what's all the effects society facing because of that factors.