<i>Usually</i> mutated forms are less deadly. In the case of Covid-19 we've seen both more and less deadly mutations.<p>In the book and original movie "Andromeda Strain", the deadly virus mutates to a non-infectious form and the world is miraculously saved, an impossible ending.<p>The author, Michael Crichton, was not known for writing good endings for most of his novels, despite being incredibly skilled at writing a suspenseful first half.<p>The author C.S. Forester, in his memoir "Long Before Forty", wrote how different authors often have completely different skills. For example some can conceive story ideas easily but are slow to flesh the story out; others, given a story line, can fill it out easily but are simply unable conceive an original plot. Forrester says almost no author has all the skills to be an excellent writer and so writers often discuss writing amongst themselves and swap ideas in their work.<p>Crichton was blessed with the skills to both conceive and initiate stories marvelously but IMO he should have handed off the last half of most of his books or possibly co-authored with someone more skilled at endings. We all would have benefited greatly: a poor ending is a true disappointment, all the more after a perfect start.