12-21 by Dustin Thomason
According to the Mayan long count calendar (that is if you believe the calculations which are now in doubt) their calendar ends on December 21, 2012. On December 22, 2012 the calendar is just supposed to start over, just like ours does every year, but this is a “what if” story. What if the Mayans knew something and ended their calendar so far in the future because they predicted the end of the fourth man (that would be us) and the arrival of the fifth? Or is the world simply going to end?
In this novel an ancient Mayan codex from the classical era is smuggled into Los Angeles. At the same time a Guatemalan man lies dying of a rare disease in a local hospital. Days later an expert in Mayan linguistics and the world’s foremost expert on prion disease team up to hopefully prevent the end of life as we know it.
If you are concerned about germs – don’t read this book. I was familiar with the disease this one is patterned after and it’s a terrible way to go; it’s worse than Ebola in my opinion. (Get you intrigued enough to check it out yet?) To make this rare illness the center of the book is terrifying, and of course perfect. I couldn’t put it down! A perfect blend of science, fiction, adventure and the end of the world.
