Title: Type B
Author: Steve Mitchell
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-6632-0722-7
Genre: Fiction Thriller
Pages: 310
Reviewed by: Arthur Thares
Pacific Book Review
Type B is a heartbreaking, terrifying, and graphic look at what happens when society falls apart. This book is not for the sensitive and can be downright brutal to read sometimes because of the content, but that shouldn’t detour those who love a brilliantly written story. Though the novel is rarely uplifting, this is one of the best books I have read in a long time – for more than one reason.
When John, a hospital courier, starts having to make emergency blood runs, he suspects something strange is going on. Little does he know his life and the world as we know it are about to change for good. A new disease is killing everyone without type B blood, and no one knows where it came from nor how to stop it. Families are torn apart, and people are dying in the millions; society starts to crumble, and John and his family try desperately to stay together – and stay alive.
From a writing perspective, author Steve Mitchell is an absolute talent. Not only is this story well-written, but he doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to characters. He is willing to go places most writers wouldn’t, and while it is often uncomfortable, it
unfortunately reflects the real world. His attention to detail is stunning and paints a picture which is sometimes too close to reality for comfort.
Something that should be noted separately about this book is how easy it is to draw comparisons with modern times. While things are nowhere near as dire as they are in Type B, we are currently experiencing our own pandemic. These unique circumstances put the reader in a frame of mind, both hoping we never see a pandemic of this level – while also empathizing with the death and turmoil that a pandemic brings to our lives. This book is not for everyone; if it were a movie, it would be rated “R” if it was even allowed to be shown at all.
There is no way to sugarcoat the graphic content of this book, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it is a work of fiction, after all. This book may be triggering to sexual assault survivors, but it isn’t mocking in any form; it just shows the evil actions humans are capable of when societal norms disappear. If you have a passion for fantastic writing and incredible stories that don’t necessarily have a fairy tale ending, I highly suggest Steve Mitchell’s Type B.
