Some of the best books that I have read have often been ones that I did not choose. They were either gifted to me or recommended to me or they made their way to me somehow. Cold Storage is one such book. It is a fast-paced novel about a biological disaster waiting to happen. Author David Koepp, if you did not know already, is also a celebrated screenwriter and director, whose noteworthy projects include Jurassic Park and Panic Room. Let’s take a quick look at the synopsis and dive into my thoughts about the book.
When Pentagon bioterror operative Roberto Diaz was sent to investigate a suspected biochemical attack, he found something far worse: a highly mutative organism capable of extinction-level destruction. He contained it and buried it in cold storage deep beneath a little-used military repository.
Now, after decades of festering in a forgotten sub-basement, the specimen has found its way out and is on a lethal feeding frenzy. Only Diaz knows how to stop it.
He races across the country to help two unwitting security guards—one an ex-con, the other a single mother. Over one harrowing night, the unlikely trio must figure out how to quarantine this horror again. All they have is luck, fearlessness, and a mordant sense of humor. Will that be enough to save all of humanity?
The Short Take – From Goodreads
A fungus with a mission, competing against humans, who know how dangerous it is. A little over thirty year ago, Roberto and Trini were called in to investigate the strange activities in the an Australian small town. With the help of Hero, a microbiologist, they learned about Cordyceps novus, a fungus that spreads at an amazingly fast rate with the sole purpose to reproduce. Roberto and Trini succeed in containing it and as time passed, the fungus is forgotten in its prison, and most of the people who knew about it, are gone. Roberto is called back when the heat signatures from the containment facility rocket and Cordyceps novus is on the loose again. With the help of two security guards, Naomi and Travis, will Roberto be able to stop the impending doom?
If you ever watched Planet Earth on Netflix, you would know that Cordyceps is not a made-up fungus. It does exist in our world!
This was a fast-paced novel, with tons of research about the fungus. Full of humour, with insights from animals and humans as the fungus takes over, without them realizing what is going on, Cold Storage is a study in human behaviour in many ways. The characters in the story are well thought out and time is spent on building them, especially the fungus. I met confident characters like Roberto and Trini, who know exactly what they have to do, Travis, who has a track record of being in the wrong place at the right time, and Naomi, who is trying to make the best of her life, while taking care of her kid and planning to go to vet school. Travis and Naomi share a chemistry that helps through this rough situation. Roberto is back from his retirement to take care of the problem, and one can see that getting old has its disadvantages. He isn’t the kind to let his ego get in the way of the mission. I really liked that about him.
The Long Take – Themes for Thought
Forgive my ignorance: I had no idea that Cordyceps was an actual living being! I was talking to a colleague of mine about this book and he enlightened me about this. This is partly why I love reading – there is always something new to discover.
Once an idea is implanted in the human brain, if mixed with imagination, the story can take flight and lead to a whole new world. David Koepp’s novel does the same and does not disappoint.
For the Long Take this time, I will talk a little bit about life (mostly what I learned from Roberto), and then share some of my research around the fungus – Roberto’s nemesis 🙂
On Habits (and nemesis) that Stay
When we do a job for a number of years, it become an integral part of us. The way we think, the way we act, we learn specific attitudes in that job/role, and as life goes on, and we continue to use them, they become ingrained in a certain manner that we cannot shed them. Even though Roberto is a retired bioterror operative and his days of being in-charge and in-action are long past, some terrors are such that only he can handle.
His first encounter with Cordyceps novus does not kill him, but it does make him reevaluate his life and the people he must save, if such a disaster was ever to pass. He and his team do their best to come up with a solution, in case the worst did happen and the fungus was let loose in the world again. Roughly thirty years later, when Roberto is called to action, he is the only one who known how to contain the damage, while also knowing that he will need someone else to do the heavy-lifting.
This does not deter his smart mind though, and no matter what situation comes his way, he faces it head on.
But talking about Roberto is incomplete without mentioning the Cordyceps novus.
On Cordyceps novus
A quick google search on Cordyceps novus will actually reveal book reviews of Cold Storage. But that aside, there are a couple of video clips about Cordyceps from various sources. Below is the one from BBC, from 2008. The video explains that there are thousands of types of Cordyceps, each targeting a different species of insects. So far, none have been found to be harmful to humans. In fact, according to Healthline, it has 6 potential health benefits!
Cold Storage takes the information available about Cordyceps and gives us the world where a version of it does exist that can wipe out humans. As terrifying as that idea is, I really appreciated that David Koepp did not just leave it hanging at “there is this fungus changing humans”. The fungus is a character in the story, with its own emotions, goals and strategies. It has its own allies in the form of other organisms and chemicals that thrive on it.
It is the most fascinating protagonist I have ever met, and would rather not meet in person.
I enjoyed Cold Storage and would recommend it to everyone who enjoys being on the edge of their seat (that will get quite uncomfortable once you are about halfway through)! I would also say that, no matter how serious the situation in this book is, the writing is humorous. At times, it questions not only the foolish choices that some characters make, but also comments on the situation that they are in, with a third-eye view.
** Cold Storage is now out in stores, so get a copy and let me know what you think! Let’s have a book-discussion! **
Amazon Print Amazon Kindle
I am thankful to Harper Collins CA, who sent me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I am thankful to them for giving me the opportunity to read this page-turner.
Cover image: Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
I enjoyed this one too, I thought it was entertaining from start to finish.