Book-reader's Bias: Due to my recent non-fiction readings on WWII heroic men of science material, I was probably a bit more apt to be underwhelmed by the fictional portrayals of same in this book than I might have otherwise been. It's an interesting adventure story with decent verisimilitude, oh and also science.Gas! Gas! Quick Boys!My 11th grade history class (Modern Euro) was a pretty lackluster affair. However, it did introduce me to one of the most memorable and powerful reflections on war I've come across to date, Wilfred Owen's poem “Dulce et Decorem Est.” (If you haven't read the poem before, go do it — in addition to being great, it's only four stanzas long, so you have no good excuse).So, what does a poem from the First World War have to do with a piece of WWII historical fiction? Actually, quite a bit. The dread and the trauma from WWI was still very present for (among others) the book's protagonist and pacifist doctor/scientist, Mark McConnell, whose veteran father never truly recovered from his encounters with chemical warfare. This is among the book's “historical artifacts”; Londoners (below) were taught protocols and drilled for potential attacks in the densely populated metropolis. Geneva Protocol be damned, no one was feeling particularly confident that chemical weapons were being taken out of play. A nice little Slate article led me to the four posters (below) intended to help with identifying the effects/presence of gases. Of the gases above (according to the story), phosgene was considered the heavy hitter. However, the life-altering plot twist in Black Cross comes with the discovery by the British that Reich scientists had discovered how to produce and make use of the deadlier gases, sarin, and soman. I'm Blinding You With Science!I don't know how you guys went about studying for physiology and such in your college years, but, for me, it involved a lot of water coloring.* So, since you're probably asking yourselves what the BFD is about the aforementioned gases, allow me to illustrate (both figuratively and literally).See those little blue dotty things? Those are nice little synaptic vesicles chock full of a nice little neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (ACh). ACh is very exciting stuff...no, I'm serious, it binds to its little receptors (on muscle fibers in this case) and opens the gate for sodium, and there's an action potential, and your muscles contract etc. (I numbered the steps in my little diagram, so you can work out the details for yourselves). What my drawing fails to depict is what usually goes down in the aftermath; namely, that a sexy little enzyme called Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) shows up. At first glance, you might think that AChE is a bit of a Debbie downer— its job is to clean up the party started by our exciting pal ACh. However, without AChE there to do its thing, those channels become desensitized to ACh and this really shuts things down.So, if for some reason AChE were to be held back, the word “inhibited” comes to mind, these neuromuscular transmissions, helpful for things like breathing, would fail...and you're gonna have a bad time. And, guess what sarin, soman and organophosphates are all about?If for some strange reason you prefer to get your “science” from the CDC, rather than some book-reading weirdo on the internet, see below. Of Nazis & Nerve GasIf you're looking to kill stuff, then nervous system disruption is a pretty good tactic. Thus, German chemist, Gerhard Schrader, tasked with finding a better insecticide, was tinkering about with organophosphates. When he sprayed some methyl-isopropoxyl-fluorophosphine oxide on a patch of leaf lice not only did the bugs bite the dust, but soon (coming into contact with the aforementioned liquid) he and his lab assistants were going blind and twitching about. The Nazi powers that be, however, had applications other than crop preservation in mind. Otto Ambros† (who, like Schrader, was employed at IG Farben) was soon overseeing the production and stockpiling of poisonous gases which (you guessed it) were, of course, tested on the Nazi equivalent of vermin — concentration camp inmates.Book? What Book?So, yeah, Greg Isles has a whole story constructed around what was, and what might have been given the scientific scenario described. It's a good book, but, like I said, I'm probably more of a non-fiction girl myself. 3.5/5 Stars__________________________________________* What? It's hard to make yourself stare at all those receptors and chemical pathways. Bonus tip: The best way to memorize enzyme names is by pretending they're spells from Harry Potter. I literally flicked my wrist in wand-like motions while taking my neuro exams. Sure I looked crazy, but I also still remember Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (obviously, the “spell” for converting norepinephrine to epinephrine). So, if that comes up in life, I'm totally ready for it.† Bonus bit of breaking news (well, news to me) re. Ambros: in developing an antidote to Sarin guess what he cooked up? Need a hint? It was a favorite among those suffering from morning sickness for a while. If you guessed Thalidomide then you deserve a gold star (the sticker kind, not the Nazi sorting system paraphernalia).
Narrated by the amazing Dick Hill, Black Cross is a long listen, over twenty hours. The story begins with the death of WWII veteran Michael McConnell, who, typical of all war veterans, has never conveyed any details of his service, neither to his wife nor his son. An old companion, aware of these secrets, seeks out McConnell's son, and deems that some amazing heroics and history needs told or forever lost. The book is the narration of Michael McConnell’s horrific tale.There is latitude taken by the author, as it pertains to point of view and writing technique. The story is supposed to be a documented history, as witnessed by Michael McConnell. Several scenes, most in fact, are such that McConnell cannot and doesn't witness them, the scenes include other ancillary characters and it’s never exactly clear how McConnell could be aware of these instances. For example, conversations between Churchill and his generals while McConnell is working in a lab at Oxford. Scenes that take place between two women in a concentration camp, or between a concentration camp prisoner and an SS agent. How can these events be conveyed without ever having been witnessed by McConnell himself? Much of the story is basically hearsay.This conundrum aside, the tale is gripping and a sad commentary of the inhumanity inflicted by humans upon each other. Greg Iles thought Black Cross was one of his best efforts … it is, albeit distressing and terribly sad. Although fiction, the basics of the atrocities inflicted by Germany are true.Excellent narration, of course, by Dick Hill. Well worth the credits.
What do You think about Black Cross (2001)?
This was one incredible book. The book is based during WWII at one of Germany's camps where different gases were tested. The book is a snap shot of England and America and their reaction to the rumor that Germany has perfected a gas for warfare. The allies send their brave men into the fray in order to save the day for the victims in the camp and the world at large. It is a hard and emotional read, Greg didn't pretty it up, IMO. But he did include moments of beauty and love within the horrors of war. Don't miss this book if you like to read about heros managing to save the day by the seat of their pants strictly with the fire in their hearts and the strength of their conviction that failure wasn't an option.
—Keri
Not many people I've come across know about this book. I read a lot of thrillers -- and write some of my own -- and BLACK CROSS by Greg Iles is easily one of the best I've ever read. I'd hate to give much away, but the book, which takes place mostly during WWII, has action, suspense, spies and heart. It deals with disturbing subject matter without sensationalizing it. The characters are complex. And here's something I don't often say about a thriller -- I was very moved by this book. I highly recommend it.
—James Hankins
In 2001 I conversed a bit with Greg Iles through emails and after reading The Quiet Game I told him I was torn between reading 24 Hours or Black Cross next. He told me he felt Black Cross was his best novel, so dilemma solved. Normally I wouldn't pick up this type of novel; wartimeaction novels just don't appeal to me from a reading standpoint but I love war movies.But as you know by now I'm a big fan of Greg Iles so I owed it to myself to read this. It's pretty good. It's about an Allied mission to avert a lethal gas attack by the Nazis with the Soman, the deadliest gas known. It did hold my interest, but like I said, novels with plenty of action tend to bore me a bit. I'm much more interested in character interactionand psychological suspense than dodging bullets, so I still consider Mortal Fear his greatest work.Now having said that, if this type of novel appeals to you, I doubt you'd find much better than Black Cross.
—Bill
