[loco]

I am trying to remember the name of a book I read about 25 years ago. Here is the basic outline:

A scientist has released some virus and killed almost everyone years earlier.
The few groups of survivors have to wear noseplugs because the virus also made it possible for the spirits/ghosts who have been around forever to suddenly be able to detect humans and attack them by entering through the nose. (I may have that part turned around. It might be that the spirits always knew of the humans. But now the humans could detect the spirits which made the spirits fearful and dangerous). Anyway, one of the survivors makes a long trip to New York City? now in ruins in search of something.

Does this ring a bell to anyone?

Thanks

[werewolfv2]

wow, looks like the board is stumped!:cool:

[JBI]

The book sounds pretty sci fi. Try that board.

[Radone]

Sounds sorta like The Stand by Stephen King

[Ward]

It is most definitely not The Stand.

But it sounds interesting.

[firqoret]

Didn't Robert McCammon write a The Stand-ripoff? Could be that one.

[Arith]

That would be Swan Song, which is an awesome book. Not a rip-off at all. I don't think its what he's looking for though.

[Werthead]

I am trying to remember the name of a book I read about 25 years ago. Here is the basic outline:

A scientist has released some virus and killed almost everyone years earlier.
The few groups of survivors have to wear noseplugs because the virus also made it possible for the spirits/ghosts who have been around forever to suddenly be able to detect humans and attack them by entering through the nose. (I may have that part turned around. It might be that the spirits always knew of the humans. But now the humans could detect the spirits which made the spirits fearful and dangerous). Anyway, one of the survivors makes a long trip to New York City? now in ruins in search of something.

Does this ring a bell to anyone?

Thanks

This sounds very similar to the plot of the the movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy:_The_Spirits_Within), aside from the bit about the noseplugs. But otherwise spot on. Since that only came out in 2001, I'm guessing it's not this story.

[KatG]

I thought it might be John Christopher, but his two virus apocalypse novels -- "No Blade of Grass," (1956) and "Empty World," (1977) don't quite fit the bill -- no ghosts. But obviously one of his contemporaries.

[Fanderay]

The book is "Telempath" by Spider Robinson.