Review: Sidney Shelton – Are you afraid of the dark?

I finished the book in 2 days. The plot is exciting and the prints is highly readable (aka big fonts and large spacing).

It’s about murder of a group of scientists around the world who worked for the same corporation. Then, widows of 2 of the scientists, who were very close to their husband, became the murderer’s next target.

It was exciting, especially when you read how 2 women out-witted the mastermind and his highly advanced technology. In addition to their wits, there is something else that always helped the 2 women to escape unscath. Sheer luck? coincidence? Most likely blessing from their deeply loved husband in the heaven.

Other than the thrills, twists and turns in the novel, one thing caught my attention. The secret that the mastermind held dearly, was his new invention to control the weather. He used it to extort leaders of various countries. If they dun give him what he wants, he will make the country “blessed” with eternal floods or droughts, resulting in billions of losses or even death.

The ending of the story – the mastermind died from his own creation, cos his brain-damaged brother pressed the wrong button.  Duhz! (Btw, it’s not a comedy. The ending seems dumb maybe cos of the way I phrase it)

Anyway, I think the more important thing is that weather modification is real and it did happened in US and Russia in the 1970s. IN THE REAL WORLD, YOU AND I LIVE IN!

Based on the afternote of the book, these 2 countries succeeded in modifying weather to a huge extent. These inventions were threats to every other countries in the world. The invention could be used as weapons in war or means of extortion. Thus, in the late 1970s, most countries (forgot which ones) signed a treaty to stop all inventions and research on weather modifications – for the better of mankind. That’s why the last note goes something like this:

“Someone said – “Do you know that there are hundreds and thousands of people suffering from weather changes and we are doing nothing about it?” Indeed and I truly hope that they are practising what they said – doing nothing about it.”

The initial purpose of weather modification could be to help people who suffered from floods and droughts due to greenhouse effect. But if the creation is not properly managed, it could become a tool to kill.

It sorta send shivers up my spine. To think that something horrible in a novel could be true in the real world, it’s sad and scary. It is a nightmare that you and I are not able to wake up.

I feel that there is always a better way to help the earth. Maybe just one less plastic bag per day or one hour less of electricity per day.

So, why not start with my birthday? 28 March 2009, shut down all electricity for just one hour, from 830pm to 930pm (I think). (Treat it as a birthday gift to me~!)

To pay tribute to the earth, just for one day, one hour.