Despite the efforts of star scientists, numerous government agencies, and wealthy pharmaceutical firms, a viable HIV vaccine has yet to be developed. Only one vaccine has gone into Phase III trials, and this occurred only in the last three years and without either government money or obstruction. A medical writer and former editor of the Harvard Health Letter, Thomas objectively and thoroughly highlights the important role women have played in AIDS-vaccine research and describes how the federal government has hindered rather than fostered scientists' best efforts. This book is more unbiased and current than Jon Cohen's Shots in the Dark (LJ 2/1/01), and it presents a superior profile of the VaxGen Company, currently in the final phase of testing a vaccine. Among books on HIV/AIDS, this ranks with Randy Shilts's And the Band Played On (LJ 11/15/87). Highly recommended for all libraries.

--Jeffrey Beall, University of Colorado Library, Denver