Hi again everyone. Long time, no see. Sorry I've been so awol lately, but between taking care of my mom, writing, movie stuff (yeah, I'm actually crew on a movie, believe it or not), web development and other exploits, I've been crazy, crazy busy. But anyhow, during that time I've been able to finish a previous work in progress and have considered adding another book to my "to do" list. This is what I came up with. It's called "The Sparrow Syndrome" and is sort of an apocalyptic thriller with a rather interesting sci-fi twist.
If you're curious about the currently tentative title, it's actually a pun built from the character of Jack Sparrow and the adventure to the fountain of youth in the 4th POTC film. But the story isn't about pirates. It's about a really weird super bug that does some things most people wouldn't think of, or even consider possible. So, anyhow, here's my initial rough plot summary. The final story may diverge 100% from this in the end (no rough plot summary ever survives the first draft. lol), but this is what I'll be starting with. Anyhow, here's the initial rough plot summary.
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The story is about a bug created in a secret billionaire's lab. It's designed to make him eternally youthful with perfect health. However, it backfires. But not completely. It's a contagious disease that gives perfect health, looks, incredible intelligence and extremely long life to some who are infected with it. Others it kills in the most gruesome and horrible way possible. The methods by which the disease selects who will die and who will live is indiscriminate, and doctors race to find a cure. However, some don't want them to find a cure. They like the idea that only "the elect" are preserved and made perfect, and "those of lesser birth" are weeded out.
In total the disease takes out about 70% of the earth's population over a two year period before the disease runs its course. (ie, everyone's been infected) Those that are left divide up the world into little fiefdoms and restart the world anew. However, as a side effect of the bug, everyone's rendered sterile, so despite having extremely long lives (doctors are estimating close to 500+- years under ideal conditions) they can't have children. Well, later on it's determined that there were some who were never infected (they hid out until everything blew over) and are able to have babies.
Well, the hunt is on to find these "breeders" and bring them in, with each country carefully and zealously protecting them. But any breeder who's brought in becomes infected and either killed or rendered sterile when they become "perfect". Realizing that the future of the human race is at stake, the breeders begin a war against the "immortals" in order to protect themselves and the future of the human race (as well as medical breakthroughs to kill the virus itself).
A breakthrough is made and it's discovered that anyone who is "cured" dies within a few days of being injected, as it's the virus that's keeping them super healthy and nearly immortal. So now the immortals are out to destroy the people who made the serum and prevent its distribution, while using this "cure" to ensure their "breeders" don't become sterile. Eventually the serum is used as a silent tool to stop the enemy immortals by darting them. A quick poison puts them down (doesn't kill them, but it acts like a sedative) and then the cure puts them out of action.
Eventually the "breeders" are able to outnumber the "immortals" and it's only a matter of time before they are all wiped out. A few immortals go into hiding, but the hunters keep hounding them, always on the lookout for people who are a little too perfect. It soon becomes a mantra that it's dangerous to be "too perfect", so people revel in their flaws, and instead of being better than their fellow man, or perfect, they're all pretty much happy to be "just average."
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Well, that's the summary. Again, things may change as I dig into the idea. But this is what I have so far. And yes, it's a bit clunky in its flow. But it's only writing notes, and it's not meant to be a final summary. lol. But anyhow, I'm interesting in what people think of this. If the idea sucks, say so. I'd rather scrap the idea now before getting into the rough draft than later after I've worked several months on it. Anyhow, that's my thoughts. Your 2c is very welcome.