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Did a 1981 Dean Koontz novel predict the coronavirus? [nypost.com]
Best-selling author Dean Koontz is going viral amid wild conspiracy theories that he predicted the novel coronavirus almost 40 years ago — even naming it after the Chinese city where COVID-19 originated.
An excerpt from the American author’s 1981 novel “The Eyes of Darkness” is being shared online after he wrote about a virus with an apparently uncanny resemblance to the one experts warn could prove a pandemic.
“They call the stuff ‘Wuhan-400’ because it was developed at their RDNA labs outside the city of Wuhan,” a character says in the novel — referring to the same city at the epicenter of the current global outbreak.
What say you? Bizarre? Coincidence? Ignore?
5
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Life imitates art in many ways, be it the written word, cinema, or song. The choice of cities is interesting, but then maybe he had knowledge of this type of industry in the Wuhan area at the time.
My greater fear is the re-election of Trump in November bringing the "1984" novel to life forty years after the novel predicted. Or the Republican run states making "The Handmaiden'" novel seem like a documentary.
Barnie2years
Level 8
Mar 3, 2020
1
Your fear is a real possibility. I think Democrats have done a good job of strengthening Trump's candidacy for 2020. What happens after his re-election, is all fears that Democrats have coming true. Trump will leave a big mark on history.
There is allegedly an american patent for this virus, so there is a possibility that those responsible for releasing it, chose that place to stir up questions and confusion having been familiar with the book.
RichardTaylor
Level 5
Mar 3, 2020
2
I used to read a lot of Dean Koontz and he has a few tropes that is in almost every book I've read. Dogs, syringes, "super powers" and at least one of these three: viruses, disabilities, mental disorders. The fact that he happened to name Wuhan is just coincidence. Cool find though.
Kenny82
Level 6
Mar 3, 2020
1
This virus has been around for a long time. You can predict anything.
AtheismIsLife
Level 6
Mar 3, 2020
1
Science fiction writers have predicted everything from viruses to cell phones in their books. Their thinking is always ahead of their time. Pretty soon we'll be beaming ourselves from place to place a la Star Trek. They're brilliant people with minds that think WAY outside of the box. Check this article for predictions by sci fi writers:
[ranker.com]
TheoryNumber3
Level 8
Mar 3, 2020
1
I agree. I read that the in 2001, the Bush Administration reached out to Hollywood scriptwriters to imagine scenarios of how many ways terrorists could attack the United States.
@St-Sinner I think I remember that!
Bizarre coincidence. It either has to be this way or we believe that Koontz had some inside knowledge of this 40 years ago. If he did have the question would then be where did this knowledge come from. Sorry! Bizarre coincidence, ignore.
DenoPenno
Level 9
Mar 3, 2020
3
Where a lot of knowledge comes from... imagination!
Like a lot of good sci-fi novels, this one hits close to home.
mistymoon77
Level 9
Mar 3, 2020
2
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