Bacterionomicon: The Creatures of the Healing Blade

I'm a DVM, not an MD, and I've never been into fantasy gaming but I love this book more than words can describe. The illustrations are beautiful, and the concepts and descriptions are so clever that I get at least one delighted giggle from each page. I've also learned some really interesting new facts, such as the story of Balto the sled-dog (I am a veterinarian after all;), which I looked up after being intrigued by the reference to him in the description of C. diphtheriae. This book would make a wonderful and unique gift for anyone in the medical sciences. I just bought another copy as a gift for my boss.

This book is awesome for so many reasons: the whole conceit of turning bacteria and diseases into D&D style monsters, then describing their treatments as the heroes of the realm is just too cool for words, but the fact that it even presents itself with world-building elements (like how the heroes all have flaws that sometimes cause more troubles than they cure) just makes it all the better. It's first and foremost a learning aid for medical students or just general knowledge, and as that it's top-notch, but its use for ideas for gaming put it over the top.

A nurse practitioner recommended I buy this book and I took her advice. She even told me "Buy this book and you will remember bacteria and correlating antibiotics for the rest of your life". She was absolutely right. This is detailed in such a way that makes it easy to read and understand. I only wish they made similar books for every aspect of the medical field. I have since been urging all of my colleagues to buy it.

The art is striking and the content is intriguing... but it's upside down. I don't know if that's intentional, or maybe I received a misassembled book?

This book is beautiful! I am a molecular biology major with an emphasis on Microbiology. I am very pleased with how this book is written. The information gives a good amount of detail without being overwhelming. The artwork is amazing. I just ordered the game that goes with it. This definitely has earned a spot in my office!

This is a great book!! It is an awesome tool for teaching the concept of infection diseases and antibiotic treatments as well as the imminent treat that we have with the development of antibiotic resistance. It is really entertaining and accurate, I bought the book for my husband Felipe Santiago and he love it!! Actually I bought another one for my lab, everybody love it and many of them bought it!! We are anxiously waiting for the new game!!

I love when people re-imagine things like this. They've taken viruses and bacteria and the pharmaceuticals used to treat or cure them and turned them into a fantasy bestiary and character catalog. It makes the subject matter more accessible and a little easier to digest. I believe this book is to accompany a "magic: the gathering"(?) type of card game.

Oh, what a super book... great illustrations and pictures, and so well written and put together! Would make a good coffee table reader or display book.