The author investigated AIDS since 1982 in 12 nations, through 900 interviews, and in reading thousands of pages of previously undisclosed government documents gained through the Freedom of Information Act. He points out that the AIDS epidemic spread wildly because the Federal Government put budget ahead of the Nation's welfare, health authorities placed political expediency before the public health, and scientists often were more concerned with international prestige than with saving lives. Individual stores are presented of 'a handful of heroes' from diverse callings who battled to alert the Nation to the magnitude of the danger it faced: American and European scientists who pioneered early research on AIDS, doctors and nurses, public health officials, gay leaders, and the AIDS victims. A chronology of the efforts of the medical community is presented through the use of journals kept by scientists. Also highlighted are statistics on the patterns of gay migration to San Francisco in the late 1970's and early 1980's and historical information on that city's gay community. Starting with the year 1976, vignettes of AIDS victims and relevant events in various countries and cities (including Zaire; Denmark; San Francisco; Fire Island, N.Y.; New York City; Virginia Beach, Va.; Los Angeles; Paris, France; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; and Vancouver, Canada) are described. References.