'We thought we had lived through the terror of a nuclear war, but something far more ominous was brewing in the Soviet Union - a biological Armageddon from which no one would escape. Dr Alibek has emerged from the world's deadliest labs to tell a story that is as important as it is chilling. Sometimes the truth is far worse than fiction. No one can afford not to read this book.' Robin Cook 'As the top scientist in the Soviet Union's biowarfare program and the inventor of the world's most powerful anthrax, Dr Ken Alibek has stunned the highest levels of the U.S. government with his revelations. Now, in a calm, compelling, utterly convincing voice, he tells the world what he knows. Modern biology is producing weapons that in killing power may exceed the hydrogen bomb. Ken Alibek describes them with the intimate knowledge of a top weaponeer.' Richard Preston, author of The Hot Zone (2000-08-01)
Biohazard
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"In the West Alibek has been shocked by the flippancy and the alarming level of complaceny regarding biological weapons. He felt it was his duty to try to dispel such ignorance. By writing this book he has succeeded brilliantly in achieving this aim." (Literary Review 2002-05-30)
"For those . who thought we were crying wolf when we tried to tell you that there really was a Soviet biological weapons programme that threatened our security, this book will make uncomfortable reading." (New Scientist 2002-05-30)
"For those . who thought we were crying wolf when we tried to tell you that there really was a Soviet biological weapons programme that threatened our security, this book will make uncomfortable reading." (New Scientist 2002-05-30)
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Hi all.
I just read this book in one sitting. I simply couldn't let it go. The book tells the story of the USSR research into biowarfare during the cold war, and is told by Kanatjan Alibekov who was at the very top of Biopreparat, the organ who conducted all the research. Biopreparat examined smallpox, plague, anthrax, AIDS, influenza, ebola etc. for use with warfare. The USSR was aboslutely sure that the other powers, like America and England were doing the same, even though a treaty was signed, never to do this.
Reading the book it's hard to understand that this is a true story.
The book is cheap, well-written, and gives a very interesting picture of the cold war, the collapse of the USSR and history in general. I felt history happen.
Thanks,
Nicholas Staubrand
I just read this book in one sitting. I simply couldn't let it go. The book tells the story of the USSR research into biowarfare during the cold war, and is told by Kanatjan Alibekov who was at the very top of Biopreparat, the organ who conducted all the research. Biopreparat examined smallpox, plague, anthrax, AIDS, influenza, ebola etc. for use with warfare. The USSR was aboslutely sure that the other powers, like America and England were doing the same, even though a treaty was signed, never to do this.
Reading the book it's hard to understand that this is a true story.
The book is cheap, well-written, and gives a very interesting picture of the cold war, the collapse of the USSR and history in general. I felt history happen.
Thanks,
Nicholas Staubrand
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Pogbellies
Format:Paperback
At times this is a little hard to read. This is not the fault of the author's but a necessity in dealing with the complex subject matter.
Perseverence is worthwhile however as the contents of this book portray a terrifing weapons programme and illustrate a complacent attitude that was displayed by the Western powers toward it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Lloobee
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ken Alibek's autobiographical account of the Soviet biological weapons program is probably the most astonishing, and downright terrifying, things I have read in a long time. It makes a complete mockery of Colin Powell and the vial of white powder - at peak the Soviets were able to manufacture *tons* of weaponised anthrax a day. Plus plenty of other horrible stuff - like Marburg, smallpox and the like. There are some rather detailed accounts of accidents that marred this programme - one of his subordinates getting infected and dying with Marburg, Alibek himself getting Tularemia, and a release of Anthrax that killed over a hundred people. The worst part is, of course, that all of the stuff that was developed, is still out there, and no longer in the hands of one government. Many of the Biopreparat scientists went on to work abroad. Plus, he also gives brief accounts of other sources of biological weapons - like the time in the US that a white supremacist almost got his hands on three vials of plague(!). Don't forget that the weaponised anthrax that was sent in the post in the US, *didn't* come from the Soviet programme.
There's plenty of little details in there too - the fact that all the vaccinations have left him with a huge list of alergies, the way that the cultures changed colour as they grew, the huge amount of political infighting - even a personal account of the failed coup against Mikhail Gorbachev.
There's plenty of little details in there too - the fact that all the vaccinations have left him with a huge list of alergies, the way that the cultures changed colour as they grew, the huge amount of political infighting - even a personal account of the failed coup against Mikhail Gorbachev.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I picked up this book in Sydney just on the off chance. i read the back and it looked pretty interesting and it was a true story so i decided to buy it. once you start this book you cant put it down. every page you turn you jaw drops that little bit further. its an amazing book and it makes you think about what could of happened if the soviets had decided to use their biological weapons. its one of the best books i have read and i would recomend it to everyone, as it is an insite and a highly interesting book.brilliant!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Janice
Format:Paperback
I bought this book just becuase I had nothing else to read whilst at the airport, but once I had started it, I was glad I had. It is amazing the detail, and the knowledge brought into the book. Things you would not have thought of happening, brought to your knowledge.
Its scarey to think that this actually happened, and possibly is continuing to happen. If you need some bringing back to reality, this is the book to do it.
If you have any interest in Russia or the Cold War this is a good book to read. If you are just interested in where we are with Bioweapons and the possible outcomes, this will give you a feeling for it. If you are just a reader who think they would like a change, this is a change that is quite scarey.
All in all a good read, and not my normal choice of book, but I couldn't put it down.
Its scarey to think that this actually happened, and possibly is continuing to happen. If you need some bringing back to reality, this is the book to do it.
If you have any interest in Russia or the Cold War this is a good book to read. If you are just interested in where we are with Bioweapons and the possible outcomes, this will give you a feeling for it. If you are just a reader who think they would like a change, this is a change that is quite scarey.
All in all a good read, and not my normal choice of book, but I couldn't put it down.
By McLoz
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read this as it was on the reference list of a different book...to say it was an eye opener would be an understatement
By G. WILLIAMS
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
You have to read this! A tale of a doctor led down the path of making weapons of mass destruction and his gradual realisation that it was all done without a similar threat from the US. The description of what some of the biological agents could have done if released is horrible. Also you realise pretty quickly that the threat is still there. Read it and it'll make you look at white powder with worry for ever more.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a book about how the USSR worn out in conventional and atomic arms race decided to play in the illegal territory- bio weapons banned by the 1972 international treaty. In his book one of the highest ranking bio-weapon developers/managers in the USSR describes development of major bio- weapon projects- plague, anthrax, Marburg decease etc as well as major Soviet casualties of this war- whether in Kazkahstan or the more famous accidental emission of anthrax spores in Sverdlovsk. The author also provides a credible insider picture on other grim aspects of working in the USSR- primacy of military sectors in the economy, cut throat internal and office politics in Soviet and post Soviet countries, lack of care respect of Soviet/post Soviet functioners towards its people incl the very people that were behind its strategic developments in science and technology and even racism in Moscow. It's not just releveant for understand history though, as the books allows to draw a lot of parallels with Russia's current relationship with the west and in particular the fact that antagonism with the west is still in the DNA of the country's military and law enforcement.
Those of you who have interest in Kazakhstan will have a chance to learn more about another instance how Moscow used the scale and remoteness of the country to conduct most freightening military test sleaving the now independent country with the terrifying legacy and massive clean up bill.
Those of you who have interest in Kazakhstan will have a chance to learn more about another instance how Moscow used the scale and remoteness of the country to conduct most freightening military test sleaving the now independent country with the terrifying legacy and massive clean up bill.
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