The national bestseller is now a major HBO TV movie, with stars including Alan Alda, Richard Gere, Lily Tomlin and Angelica Houston. "A heroic work of journalism on what must rank as one of the foremost catastrophes of modern history" (New York Times), this extraordinary book reveals how the federal government put budget considerations ahead of the nation's welfare. (Penguin)

Reviews

``An exhaustive account of the early years of the AIDS crisis, this outlines the medical, social and political forces behind the epidemic's origin and rapid spread,'' reported PW . ``The book stands as a definitive reminder of the shameful injustice inflicted on this nation by the institutions in which we put our trust . . . a landmark work.'' 200,000 first printing; author tour. (October)

SOC SCI This shocking and illuminating account by the best-selling author of Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the U.S. Military (Audio Reviews, LJ 8/93) remains one of the most important books of the last two decades. Beginning with the alleged ``pa tient zero''--a French Canadian flight at tendant whose coast-to-coast liaisons were pivotal in spreading the AIDS virus throughout the United States--Shilts documents the epidemic's first onslaught, as well as the attendant reactions (or nonreactions) by the media, national health organizations, mainstream America, and the gay community. Although the audiobook was originally released in 1988, a recent HBO original movie based on the book and the success of Conduct Unbecoming should revive interest in it. Actor Willem Dafoe narrates with calm assurance, and Shilts reads a new afterword in which he points out that the band continues to play. Until an unabridged version is available, all libraries should have a copy of this seminal work.-- Mark Annichiarico, ``Library Journal''

YA Investigative journalist Shilts em ploys a case study approach to expose the alarms, disregard, and misinforma tion about AIDS that has been promoted by the government, gay and straight or ganizations, news agencies, and medical researchers. He indicts the political agendas of government officials, ego- driven scientists, and profit-conscious blood bank executives, all of whom im peded early AIDS research. In addition, he gives a fascinating account of the detective work needed in discovering new diseases. Although focusing his re ports on San Francisco and New York's gay communities and research centers in Atlanta and the Washington, D.C. area, Shilts dramatically explores the interna tional problem of AIDS. Students will use the index for assigned papers, but it is the volume of information and the vi gnettes about real individuals that make compelling cover-to-cover reading. Alice Conlon, University of Houston

"Shilts successfully weaves comprehensive investigative reporting and commercial page-turning pacing, political intrigue, and personal tragedy into a landmark book . . . Its importance cannot be overstated." -"Publishers Weekly""" "A monumental history." -"The Washington Post Book World"
"The most thorough, comprehensive exploration of the AIDS epidemic to date . . . It is fascinating, frightening, and essential reading." -"San Francisco Sentinel""" "Rivals in power and intensity, and in the brilliance of its reporting and writing, Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood"." --"The Boston Globe""" "A heroic work of journalism." --"The New York Times"