The Soil Is Dead

Boris Bethelheim, the wily Deputy Director of our defense research agency, was interested in the perfect biological weapon. One that could destroy an enemy’s infrastructure, but in the end could be brought under control. He realized that his former intern, George Brachmann—a doctoral student—had uncovered the answer; slugs with their ability to destroy the soil they lived in. George’s Frankenslugs could be that weapon.Boris was a crotchety, wheel-chair bound bureaucrat who wore a white lab coat to remind people to address him as Doctor Bethelheim, just as it was embroidered over his coat’s pocket. The whole situation started when George unearthed the slugs while working on his research. Years later when it was revealed that the slugs had been planted in the Middle East, George and his colleagues were faced with the daunting task of eradicating them and restoring the soil. Whoever distributed the slugs—whether Boris or somebody else—would need George’s help in controlling them before they destroyed all the arable land in the world. But, who put the slugs out there, and could the infestation be controlled by five young academics? The Soil Is Dead is a compelling story about science and geopolitical intrigue.

Mitchell J. Rycus, emeritus professor of urban planning has written his fourth novel. His first novel, "Rub up: Musings of a Navy Corpsman," was an Ann Arbor best seller in October, 2007. In January, 2010 his second novel, "The Noble Profession of Leaf Chasing," was released, and his third novel, "The Soil Is Dead," was published in July, 2012. His most recent title, "T," was released in January, 2013. Rycus' career runs the gamut from aerospace engineering to academia. Rycus served as Chairman of the University of Michigan's Urban Planning Program in the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning from 1986 until 1992. Prior to his emeritus status in June of 2000, he was the Co-director of the Studies in Urban Security Group, which for almost twenty years did consulting for a number of public agencies throughout the United States. Rycus has authored, co-authored, or presented over 100 technical reports, articles, book-chapters, and scholarly papers. For more information about Mitchell Rycus visit his home site: sitemaker.umich.edu/mjrycus/home.