Bacteria and other microbial organisms, whether strange and new, or old and deadly, are the theme for this collection of thirteen short stories and one classic novel. Horror, crime, romance, science fiction ... a multitude of genres play host to these invisible organisms that so easily influence mankind. Age-old diseases like leprosy and cholera meet laboratory creations. And, of course, the search for new microbes rarely ends as trouble-free as the discoverers might dream.