What do you think?
Rate this book
Q
SARS. Avian Flu. Ebola.
Every year, the infectious disease changes—but the threat remains the same. We've all read the headlines. We all know the score. Our interconnected world is at a uniquely dangerous moment. The potential for an epidemic progressing to a catastrophic level has never been higher. The question what are we going to do about it? What happens when medicine fails and society has to make the hard choices to take the severe steps necessary to stop the inevitable?
Mandatory quarantine. A month ago, the term seemed like something out of science fiction. Today, we know better. Quarantine might be the only thing that will keep us alive.
Q is the story of a regular cop, Benjamin Grady, who suddenly finds himself on the front line of an unyielding, terrifying epidemic. His job is simple—to quarantine the Probables, those most likely to be carrying a deadly disease. But Grady quickly learns that no amount of training, no amount of lectures from the experts at the CDC or the military infectious disease specialists can prepare him for a society on the verge of losing the war to a microscopic, unrelenting scourge.
Ripped from the headlines, meticulously researched, Q lays bare the truth behind the quarantine laws that are already on the books, and what it would mean to implement them on a national scale.
At this very moment, we are closer to the edge than ever before. Whether we realize it or not, America is one poorly contained infected airliner, one disease-ridden subway car away from full-scale martial law.
Q is a true story. It just hasn't happened yet.
Every year, the infectious disease changes—but the threat remains the same. We've all read the headlines. We all know the score. Our interconnected world is at a uniquely dangerous moment. The potential for an epidemic progressing to a catastrophic level has never been higher. The question what are we going to do about it? What happens when medicine fails and society has to make the hard choices to take the severe steps necessary to stop the inevitable?
Mandatory quarantine. A month ago, the term seemed like something out of science fiction. Today, we know better. Quarantine might be the only thing that will keep us alive.
Q is the story of a regular cop, Benjamin Grady, who suddenly finds himself on the front line of an unyielding, terrifying epidemic. His job is simple—to quarantine the Probables, those most likely to be carrying a deadly disease. But Grady quickly learns that no amount of training, no amount of lectures from the experts at the CDC or the military infectious disease specialists can prepare him for a society on the verge of losing the war to a microscopic, unrelenting scourge.
Ripped from the headlines, meticulously researched, Q lays bare the truth behind the quarantine laws that are already on the books, and what it would mean to implement them on a national scale.
At this very moment, we are closer to the edge than ever before. Whether we realize it or not, America is one poorly contained infected airliner, one disease-ridden subway car away from full-scale martial law.
Q is a true story. It just hasn't happened yet.
94 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 29, 2014
About the author
Ben Mezrich
44 books1,365 followersBen Mezrich has created his own highly addictive genre of nonfiction, chronicling the amazing stories of young geniuses making tons of money on the edge of impossibility, ethics, and morality.
With his newest non-fiction book, Once Upon a Time in Russia, Mezrich tells his most incredible story yet: A true drama of obscene wealth, crime, rivalry, and betrayal from deep inside the world of billionaire Russian Oligarchs.
Mezrich has authored sixteen books, with a combined printing of over four million copies, including the wildly successful Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, which spent sixty-three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and sold over 2 million copies in fifteen languages. His book, The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal – debuted at #4 on the New York Times list and spent 18 weeks in hardcover and paperback, as well as hit bestseller lists in over a dozen countries. The book was adapted into the movie The Social Network –written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher – and was #1 at the box office for two weeks, won Golden Globes for best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best score, and was nominated for 8 Oscars, winning 3 including best Adapted Screenplay for Aaron Sorkin. Mezrich and Aaron Sorkin shared a prestigious Scripter Award for best adapted screenplay as well.
With his newest non-fiction book, Once Upon a Time in Russia, Mezrich tells his most incredible story yet: A true drama of obscene wealth, crime, rivalry, and betrayal from deep inside the world of billionaire Russian Oligarchs.
Mezrich has authored sixteen books, with a combined printing of over four million copies, including the wildly successful Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, which spent sixty-three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and sold over 2 million copies in fifteen languages. His book, The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal – debuted at #4 on the New York Times list and spent 18 weeks in hardcover and paperback, as well as hit bestseller lists in over a dozen countries. The book was adapted into the movie The Social Network –written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher – and was #1 at the box office for two weeks, won Golden Globes for best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best score, and was nominated for 8 Oscars, winning 3 including best Adapted Screenplay for Aaron Sorkin. Mezrich and Aaron Sorkin shared a prestigious Scripter Award for best adapted screenplay as well.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 19, 2020
4.5 for this mesmerizing little book.
Recommended by a GR friend (thanks, Doug!), this one did not disappoint. It's a quick read with a fast pace, and even though it's not what I typically enjoy reading, the relevance to today's world cannot be overstated, and I was thoroughly engaged.
Usually I find books written in second person distracting and annoying, but in this case it was well done and seemed to work, adding to the "urgency" of the situation. I have to wonder if living within an actual pandemic added to the appeal of this one, as I drew parallels between the fictional world and my own reality. I enjoyed the underlying moral tug-of-war experienced by the protagonist, and how the author led us down the insidious paths followed when one group of people decide what is best for all. Sometimes we are left with only a choice between bad and worse.
If the current pandemic has you living in fear, this one may not be for you. Or at least not until things settle down. If you enjoy contemplating muddy moral and political issues, you might find this has something to offer.
Recommended by a GR friend (thanks, Doug!), this one did not disappoint. It's a quick read with a fast pace, and even though it's not what I typically enjoy reading, the relevance to today's world cannot be overstated, and I was thoroughly engaged.
Usually I find books written in second person distracting and annoying, but in this case it was well done and seemed to work, adding to the "urgency" of the situation. I have to wonder if living within an actual pandemic added to the appeal of this one, as I drew parallels between the fictional world and my own reality. I enjoyed the underlying moral tug-of-war experienced by the protagonist, and how the author led us down the insidious paths followed when one group of people decide what is best for all. Sometimes we are left with only a choice between bad and worse.
If the current pandemic has you living in fear, this one may not be for you. Or at least not until things settle down. If you enjoy contemplating muddy moral and political issues, you might find this has something to offer.
May 18, 2020
There are two types of readers nowadays: those who will want to read works that confront and address the current pandemic, and those who want something - anything - that will take their minds off it. I must be the first type of reader, and if you're the second, stay well away from this short, chilling novella. Perhaps the most shocking thing about it is that it was actually published six years ago, but sounds all too plausibly like what could happen right NOW, if the world doesn't get its act together to combat Covid-19.
For something only 94 pages long, it provides a full course meal of a story, and it didn't seem to me that it skimped at all in characterization or plotting -it seemed the perfect length, and can easily be read in one sitting. And the horrific ending is well nigh perfect. There are a few minor plot gaps (how does Grady get into and out of his Neoprene protective gear to get in and out of the theatre so quickly? for one), but those are easy to let go. Mezrich's two most popular works were made into the respected movies 'The Social Network' and '21', and should the movie industry ever revive, a movie based on this would make an excellent addition to those films. Highly recommended - IF you are a Reader #1.
PS Kudos to whoever did the gorgeous and apropos cover.
For something only 94 pages long, it provides a full course meal of a story, and it didn't seem to me that it skimped at all in characterization or plotting -it seemed the perfect length, and can easily be read in one sitting. And the horrific ending is well nigh perfect. There are a few minor plot gaps (how does Grady get into and out of his Neoprene protective gear to get in and out of the theatre so quickly? for one), but those are easy to let go. Mezrich's two most popular works were made into the respected movies 'The Social Network' and '21', and should the movie industry ever revive, a movie based on this would make an excellent addition to those films. Highly recommended - IF you are a Reader #1.
PS Kudos to whoever did the gorgeous and apropos cover.
January 2, 2015
I am an enormous Ben Mezrich fan – I’ve read almost everything he’s every written. So it’s mind-bendingly exciting to me that he decided to publish his latest work of fiction, titled Q, with our publishing company FG Press.
If you don’t know Ben, his books including Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions (the book the movie 21 was based on) and Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History.
But he’s probably most well-known for The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal which was the book that the movie The Social Network was based on.
I first met Ben through my long time friend Niel Robertson, an entrepreneur we’ve backed many times. I’m in Boston one day for something and Niel emails me and says, “Hey, do you want to meet Ben Mezrich?” This is after Bringing Down the House but well before The Accidental Billionaire. “Sure, where?” I say. Niel knows me well, so he offers up sushi at some place in the Copley Mall. The next few hours were a really fun intellectual romp.
I haven’t seen Ben since then but our emails have crossed a few times. I love the origin story of Sex on the Moon (hint – Niel and other friends are involved, including Matt Emmi.) And I’ve continued to suck down whatever Ben writes.
Q is a novella that Ben has been working on for a while. It’s only available in Kindle format on Amazon. It took me an hour too read and I thought it was fucking awesome.
Whenever Amy and I talk about the extinction of the human race, she has a very clear point of view on how it will happen. Viruses. That’s it – simple. When the Ebola thing happened a few months ago (hey – why isn’t anyone talking about Ebola anymore – it’s not like it’s solved?) Amy was all over it. As a result, I knew more about what was going on with Ebola than most other things I was exposed to.
Ben appears to have the same fears. AI becoming sentient and evil? Nah – that’s not a big deal. Viruses mutating, having a 75% infection rate, undetermined incubation period, and 75% mortality rate? Now that will mess up the way human society works.
If you don’t know Ben, his books including Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions (the book the movie 21 was based on) and Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History.
But he’s probably most well-known for The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal which was the book that the movie The Social Network was based on.
I first met Ben through my long time friend Niel Robertson, an entrepreneur we’ve backed many times. I’m in Boston one day for something and Niel emails me and says, “Hey, do you want to meet Ben Mezrich?” This is after Bringing Down the House but well before The Accidental Billionaire. “Sure, where?” I say. Niel knows me well, so he offers up sushi at some place in the Copley Mall. The next few hours were a really fun intellectual romp.
I haven’t seen Ben since then but our emails have crossed a few times. I love the origin story of Sex on the Moon (hint – Niel and other friends are involved, including Matt Emmi.) And I’ve continued to suck down whatever Ben writes.
Q is a novella that Ben has been working on for a while. It’s only available in Kindle format on Amazon. It took me an hour too read and I thought it was fucking awesome.
Whenever Amy and I talk about the extinction of the human race, she has a very clear point of view on how it will happen. Viruses. That’s it – simple. When the Ebola thing happened a few months ago (hey – why isn’t anyone talking about Ebola anymore – it’s not like it’s solved?) Amy was all over it. As a result, I knew more about what was going on with Ebola than most other things I was exposed to.
Ben appears to have the same fears. AI becoming sentient and evil? Nah – that’s not a big deal. Viruses mutating, having a 75% infection rate, undetermined incubation period, and 75% mortality rate? Now that will mess up the way human society works.
March 1, 2015
I read "End" and my reaction was "What?!?" I was expecting a little more, But, if it got that reaction from me, it could not have been too bad. While I don't like the "you" style, it was still gripping.
March 8, 2020
I thought it was a good story, but scary as hell considering the present Corona Virus pandemic going on. The ARDs in the book was more deadly than the COVID-19, but the symptoms are eerily similar. I could easily see the regressive Nazi Like government of NY and NY City killing off its citizens in an effort to stem the spread of a disease like ARDs. The author didn't say, but I bet those in power in NY City never saw Q island, even if exposed or probable. That is the way the regressive centralized control governments work. The political and $$$ elites have dachas while everyone else lives on top of each other in poverty. It has always been that way in a socialist centralized government. In this case the dachas would be quarantined in luxury instead of dying on Q island among the masses.
November 22, 2015
This story grabs you, shakes you, and scares the crap out of you. It's a terrifying story of society's reaction to a highly contagious, deadly virus. Mezrich does a great job of making you feel empathetic for the main character and his situation. Definitely worth a quick read.
It reminded me of the movie Outbreak, but was written in the 2nd person giving it a video game-like feel to it: Doom meets Outbreak. I realize Doom is a 1st person shooter, but Mezrich's descriptive writing of the smell, feel and taste throughout the book makes you feel like you're there.
It reminded me of the movie Outbreak, but was written in the 2nd person giving it a video game-like feel to it: Doom meets Outbreak. I realize Doom is a 1st person shooter, but Mezrich's descriptive writing of the smell, feel and taste throughout the book makes you feel like you're there.
March 19, 2020
Right out of the headlines...
I really shouldn't have read this book during this great coronavirus pandemic of 2020. It seems like we're really only a few steps away from this book becoming reality.
As for the writing, I didn't enjoy the perspective, with the author using "you" throughout. It felt too much like a third grade chose your own adventure book. Also very predictable.
That being said, if you do want to read this, do yourself a favor and wait for the current situation to be over. If it's going to be...
I really shouldn't have read this book during this great coronavirus pandemic of 2020. It seems like we're really only a few steps away from this book becoming reality.
As for the writing, I didn't enjoy the perspective, with the author using "you" throughout. It felt too much like a third grade chose your own adventure book. Also very predictable.
That being said, if you do want to read this, do yourself a favor and wait for the current situation to be over. If it's going to be...
February 4, 2020
Well written, thought provoking and visceral
The third person perspective of this short story does a great job of putting you right there in the situation. The plot is so visceral that you feel every scene playing out in your mind, the ending is riveting as terror fills your body at the end.... You know where you are going. Ethics leaves humanity when fear fills the collective consciousness. Must read!
The third person perspective of this short story does a great job of putting you right there in the situation. The plot is so visceral that you feel every scene playing out in your mind, the ending is riveting as terror fills your body at the end.... You know where you are going. Ethics leaves humanity when fear fills the collective consciousness. Must read!
May 24, 2015
So it's no secret that I'm a huge Ben Mezrich fan, his usual non-fiction-that's-more-exciting-than-fiction always grabs me from the start.
This is the second of his fiction works I've read (the first was years back) and I absolutely loved it. Short, scary, hard-hitting, and well worth the hour.
Great work.
This is the second of his fiction works I've read (the first was years back) and I absolutely loved it. Short, scary, hard-hitting, and well worth the hour.
Great work.
February 1, 2020
Well-written and haunting
An interesting time for this to be promoted on Kindle Unlimited. When the TEOTWAWKI story is about zombies, one can distance one’s self. When you read this, you will look out your window afterwards. And think about fiction with its roots in truth.
My compliments to the author.
An interesting time for this to be promoted on Kindle Unlimited. When the TEOTWAWKI story is about zombies, one can distance one’s self. When you read this, you will look out your window afterwards. And think about fiction with its roots in truth.
My compliments to the author.
February 19, 2020
Now we know
The end of the book answers all the questions but leaves me with a sick feeling in my stomach. The book is well written, in a first person format that is strange in the beginning but works well as the book proceeds. It is quite frightening when we see where they are going with the Corona virus.... and what is next?
The end of the book answers all the questions but leaves me with a sick feeling in my stomach. The book is well written, in a first person format that is strange in the beginning but works well as the book proceeds. It is quite frightening when we see where they are going with the Corona virus.... and what is next?
March 2, 2020
"Q" is a must read(short) for those interested it what might happen
For a short story, it definitely held my interest to the end. Even though it's a work of fiction, I wonder if it was a premonition of what's to come with today's virus epidemic.
For a short story, it definitely held my interest to the end. Even though it's a work of fiction, I wonder if it was a premonition of what's to come with today's virus epidemic.
March 16, 2020
Chills
On my! This book is right on with it being about a virus and how they handle the situation. Right now the corona virus is causing a pandemic Written before all this present day nightmare !Highly recommend!
On my! This book is right on with it being about a virus and how they handle the situation. Right now the corona virus is causing a pandemic Written before all this present day nightmare !Highly recommend!
January 20, 2015
Quick read. Shorter than I would have liked, but gripping, engaging and thought provoking throughout.
January 2, 2022
Timeline should have maybe been 2032
I read this maybe in 2018. Just reread it. Thankfully, we are, in 2022, not yet to this level of extreme military res
ponse to Covis 19, but with the idiotic refusal of such are large group who are refusing the vaccine, I am not appalled at the response of government I was the first reading. Will of next pandemic eventually resort to such extremes?
I read this maybe in 2018. Just reread it. Thankfully, we are, in 2022, not yet to this level of extreme military res
ponse to Covis 19, but with the idiotic refusal of such are large group who are refusing the vaccine, I am not appalled at the response of government I was the first reading. Will of next pandemic eventually resort to such extremes?
November 7, 2016
A short novel and fast read; Q is a departure from Mezrich's normal style.
I found the book to contain some of the trademark elements of his writing style but also a good helping of creepy narrative. This book is scary for the possibilities it represents.
I won't spoil the end but will just say it blends some sci-fi concepts into its realism and leaves you truly disturbed.
4 stars.
I found the book to contain some of the trademark elements of his writing style but also a good helping of creepy narrative. This book is scary for the possibilities it represents.
I won't spoil the end but will just say it blends some sci-fi concepts into its realism and leaves you truly disturbed.
4 stars.
February 16, 2020
Heartbreakingly realistic
Well-written, accurately portrayed series of events. With the current threat of coronavirus out of China, this story rings even more frighteningly possible to occur.
Well-written, accurately portrayed series of events. With the current threat of coronavirus out of China, this story rings even more frighteningly possible to occur.
April 11, 2020
If COVID-19 has you worried, this will scare the s*** out of you. Published in 2014 it clearly foretells the current pandemic; just hope the ending is different.
Easy read since you won't do to sleep.
Easy read since you won't do to sleep.
April 12, 2020
To say that this novel is prophetic is an understatement. One can't help but draw parallels between this work and our present pandemic. One can only hope that it does not end as dismally in reality as in this book.
May 16, 2020
Great Read. Captivating story (no spoilers). Both timely and Prescient. Great ending. This story Needs to be made into a novel, a multi-volume series and a movie. Spread the word (not the virus).
December 8, 2020
Very interesting. The book, though written earlier, eerily describes the current situation of not only U.S.A., but many other countries where there is not only quarantine but also total shutdown too.
February 13, 2022
A SARS virus outbreak spreads from China all over the world and the only known countermeasure are drastic quarantines. A great story, easy read, less unbelievable nowadays then when it was first published in 2014.
But do yourself a favor and do not read it while the pandemic is still ongoing 😉
But do yourself a favor and do not read it while the pandemic is still ongoing 😉
December 7, 2022
Fast paced, engaging and at times terrifyingly all too real. Mezrich's novella paints an extreme national response to a global pandemic. I read this following the COVID 19 Pandemic and found myself wondering how extreme and far off were we from Mezrich's Q-Laws?
February 3, 2020
Pretty scary especially since we’re dealing with the coronavirus right now.
February 5, 2020
You need a good reason to write in the 2nd person. This book didn't have one.
February 5, 2020
A quick and timely read given the quarantines in the world today. Didn't love the end.
February 16, 2020
Didn't like it; didn't finish it. Just plain boring to me.
February 18, 2020
Timely topic
Just when the coronavirus is starting to sound really really scary, a friend recommended this book. Yikes! Extremely well done. Very talented author.
Just when the coronavirus is starting to sound really really scary, a friend recommended this book. Yikes! Extremely well done. Very talented author.
February 18, 2020
My only complaint is that I wanted more - please write an expanded version?!
February 19, 2020
Too predictable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews