Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: geeky
  • Music: SJ Tucker, "Cheshire Kitten."

FEED spoiler party!

Okay, folks, I've been asked for it, and here it is: the spoiler party for Feed. Anything goes in the comments on this post only. If you haven't read the book, I ask that you not click. If you have, feel free to jump in, ask questions, discuss, or just yell at me. I'm cool either way.

Game on!
Tags: feed, mira grant, zombies
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  • 268 comments
...go 9 levels up... Expand

hasufin

May 21 2010, 17:25:20 UTC 7 years ago

I'm curious as to how that kick-starting occurs, and why it needs a certain mass. Viral transformation occurs on the cellular level. If any dead cell went to active KA, everyone would have undergone spontaneous amplification a long time ago. So, how do the cells "know" that their host has died? And could that pathway be disrupted?

(Naturally, if there is an answer I may not be able to understand it. And it's probably not pertinent to the story. And, as the author, you have every right to say "Nyah, nyah, nyah! I'm not going to tell you!")

seanan_mcguire

May 21 2010, 17:28:13 UTC 7 years ago

1. The virus activates when the electrical field of the host is disrupted around it.
2. The virus requires a certain volume to "reactivate" the host.
3. Under the amplification threshold, it cannot achieve sufficient volume.
4. The disruption of the viral connection to the host disrupts the electrical field. Amplification ho!

hasufin

May 21 2010, 17:57:24 UTC 7 years ago

Okay, now you've got me wondering how zombies are affected by high-voltage lines. And electromagnets. Which has the potential to be absolutely hilarious. As Shaun has demonstrated, tasers have some effect, but I didn't note the significance of it at the time.


On a more serious note, would it then be possible to establish a field around a person which inhibited viral amplification?
I can imagine really high-end level 10 zones having something in place which would keep recently-dead from rising. Not nearly as handy as, say, a working vaccine, but it does have potential. Side effects might be a bit of an issue, though.

seanan_mcguire

May 21 2010, 18:44:54 UTC 7 years ago

No, it wouldn't be, for reasons that require like, nine pages of my virology notes to explain (and they're not sharable, for a lot of reasons, including I don't want to be busted for bio-terrorism).

hasufin

May 21 2010, 19:11:18 UTC 7 years ago

Ah well. It was an idea. I really need to get back into studying this stuff. I've been on an archaeology kick for years.