Story about Disease Causing Bodies to Develop a Hard Skin

[Johlar]

This book could go back into the 60's or 70's. It's about a mysterious disease that causes peoples skin and then internal organs to harden and people to die. I can't remember Title or Author...I'd be grateful for any help...thank uou

 

[johnnyjet]

Sort of sounds like the disaster novel The Crystal World by J. G. Ballard (1966)

 

[Johlar]

Thanks for replying but that's not the one

 

[Danny McG]

But n Ben A Go Go ?

 

[Johlar]

But n Ben A Go Go ?

That's not it either...thanks for trying

 

[Dave]

Protector by Larry Niven - originally a short story, turned into a longer story, and part of his Known Space universe. Then reworked in the "of Worlds" series.

A symbiotic virus within the Tree of Life root, when eaten, turns Pak Breeders into the final stage of their life cycle, a Protector. Humans are an evolved form of Pak Breeders (Homo habilis) as are all the humanoids on Ringworld. I can't remember if some have evolved so much that they die when they eat it.

 

[Danny McG]

second try --- Dark Benediction by Walter Miller

 

[Johlar]

Protector by Larry Niven - originally a short story, turned into a longer story, and part of his Known Space universe. Then reworked in the "of Worlds" series.

A symbiotic virus within the Tree of Life root, when eaten, turns Pak Breeders into the final stage of their life cycle, a Protector. Humans are an evolved form of Pak Breeders (Homo habilis) as are all the humanoids on Ringworld. I can't remember if some have evolved so much that they die when they eat it.

sorry, that's not it

 

[Johlar]

second try --- Dark Benediction by Walter Miller

not that one either...it's driven me crazy trying to find it

 

[JunkMonkey]

I seem to remember a Doctor Who in which something similar happened to the occupants of a planet the doctor visited. The change was part of the aliens' natural cycle as winter came but as the years on the planet were so long no one remebered that this happened to them. They thought it was a disease and cast out the 'sufferers'.

 

[Venusian Broon]

Alasdair Gray's Lanark has the some of the characters suffering from 'Dragonhide' a disease which turns skin into scales as an external manifestation of emotional repression. From memory it takes over one and the protagonist then learns they are then used for some rather unsavory practices.

(However this is in the Unthank part of the book...)

 

[Johlar]

I seem to remember a Doctor Who in which something similar happened to the occupants of a planet the doctor visited. The change was part of the aliens' natural cycle as winter came but as the years on the planet were so long no one remebered that this happened to them. They thought it was a disease and cast out the 'sufferers'.

not that one either...thank you

 

[HareBrain]

Alasdair Gray's Lanark has the some of the characters suffering from 'Dragonhide'

That's what came to mind for me too. Wonderfully different book.

 

[JunkMonkey]

Part of one of the Sector General books by James White?

 

[Danny McG]

there's a disease called Greyscale in G O T that causes people skin to harden in patches

 

[Khuratokh]

Well there is of course Epidermodysplasia verruciformis
Also known as human tree disease .

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

This book could go back into the 60's or 70's. It's about a mysterious disease that causes peoples skin and then internal organs to harden and people to die.

That sounds vaguely familiar. Do you remember any other details?

 

[russ2]

I seem to remember a Doctor Who in which something similar happened to the occupants of a planet the doctor visited. The change was part of the aliens' natural cycle as winter came but as the years on the planet were so long no one remebered that this happened to them. They thought it was a disease and cast out the 'sufferers'.

That Dr Who story was called the Mutants

 

[russ2]

Are you thinking of that short story where people start turning into hardened cocoon-like bodies. They're still inside going nuts. The first one wakes up and literally flies of the planet. So the idea is their bodies broke down like insects in cocoons and they reformed as a superior life form. All triggered by radiation from outer space i think. I think they were working at an observatory? Great story

 

[Danny McG]

think I've got this now on my heels