In the heart of Silicon Valley, a cutting-edge military nanotechnology project goes terribly wrong. Created as a non-lethal battlefield weapon, the Wonder Bugs were designed to spread invisibly and render enemy soldiers blind. But when the microscopic machines escape their high-security lab, their infection rate grows exponentially, spreading far beyond their intended targets.

At first, no one realizes what’s happening. Senator Susan Palmer, after a routine DARPA visit, returns to Washington, carrying the unseen plague to the nation’s capital. Within days, pilots, world leaders, and entire cities fall into darkness, leading to global riots, mass casualties, and total societal collapse.

Across the country, survivors struggle to navigate this new world.

Phoenix Walker, an ex-Army Ranger imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, realizes he’s the only man left sighted inside a prison now ruled by chaos.

Dani Tyler, a smart and resourceful young girl, finds herself one of the only seeing people in Albuquerque, forced to take on a world that no longer follows rules.

Meanwhile, the world’s last remaining leaders scramble for answers, but the one possible cure was never completed, leaving those still sighted with a target on their backs. As the world spirals into lawlessness, one thing is certain: if the Wonder Bugs can’t be stopped, humanity’s reign will end—not with a bang, but with eternal darkness.

A heart-pounding blend of science fiction, thriller, and survival horror, The 9th Plague is a gripping novel that explores the terrifying consequences of uncontrolled technology.

T.M. Julien