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Title: The Andromeda Strain by MICHAEL CRICHTON ISBN: 0-345-37848-2 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 20 September, 1992 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.23 (295 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: An unknown deadly organism from space
Comment: A government project called project Scoop is sending up satellites into orbit to collect dust and any organisms. An unknown deadly organism is picked up by one of the satellities, then the satellite crashes to earth. The government must find a cure before the organism multiplies and kills everyone. The Andromeda Strain is similar to other science fiction works by Michael Crichton. The story is written with a lot of detail and scientific vocabulary. What I like best about this book was its realistic plot. The problem has been previously proposed and I'm sure discussed by many in the scientific world. Also Crichton used fantastic imagery and great descritption of the setting and background of main characters. "Merrick was a rebellious, unorthodox scientist whose reputation for clear thinking was not enhanced by his recent divorce or the presence of the handsome he brought with him to the symposium". The only downfall I could find was in some parts the intense scientific vocabulary when discussing the organism and the depth that he goes in, but for some this might make the book that much better.
Rating: 5
Summary: A fascinating, science-filled story ...
Comment: How do you fight a deadly micro-organism brought to earth by a returning satellite? You know nothing about this micro-organism other than it has completely wiped out an entire town's population except for a sickly old man and a crying baby (clues!). Exposure to this organism will kill you instantly. Do you dare try any of the conventional methods for destroying viruses and germs? Anything you do (even nothing) may cause the micro-organism to multiply faster, mutate, etc, and you risk decimating the earth's population!
That's the challange faced by Michael Crichton's team of elite biophysicists in their top-secret, ultra-sophisticated underground research facility (code name: Wildfire). Rich in scientific details, the book speeds along from the shocking discovery of a town full of dead people, to the cloak-and-dagger process of alerting and assembling the team of civilian experts (some of whom have secrets), to the action occuring in the facility itself (a central character with a few secrets of its own).
The ultra-biologically clean government facility is equipped with automatic safeguard mechanisms that I will only characterize here as extremely thought-provoking. I was intrigued by the elaborate procedures and mechanisms for decomtaminating the scientists prior to entering the facility (not as straight forward as one would think). Also interesting was a side story involving the unexpected results of an experimental drug that kills absolutely every single bacteria, germ, virus, and organisim in the human body.
Logically plotted, highly technical and suspensefully timed, this is a thinking-man's sci-fi story which constantly reminds you of time running out with everything at stake. If you've read Michael Crichton's work before, you'll recognize his recurring theme involving the unpredictability of the universe (chaos theory), and man's mistaken belief that he can change and control nature with technolgy.
The subject was highly topical in the late 60's and early 70's when Apollo missions were bringing material back from the moon on a regular basis. Today, who knows what micro-meteorites bearing alien bacteria may be captured by space shuttles, space stations, etc?
A SIDE NOTE:
If you like this book, you should check out the 1971 film that was based on it. Considering when it was made, it is a surprisingly well-made science fiction film directed by Robert Wise. This is one of the few films that is actually as good as the book it is based on. The acting, production values, set design, and art direction are all very impressive. Sure, the computer hardware may be dated, but this was the real equipment in use at the time and actually increases the film's realism (no ultra flashly graphics, talking computers, over-produced effects, etc.). Like '2001: A Space Odyssey', the film still plays well today. Rent it!
Rating: 5
Summary: The Andromeda Strain
Comment: The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton is a book about a virus that has never been heard of. Mr. stone is investigating the death of a small town. The town was an ordinary town before the virus hit. Mr. stone needed help so he got it from a man named Mr. Hall. Fortunately there were two survivors in the toen that lived through the virus. Mr. Stone and Mr. Hall were able to do tests on them. Mr. Stone started a top-secret program called wildfire. This program was designed to make a vaccine for the virus. Whenever they got real close to finding an solution they would always find a problem. They could not find a relationship between the 65-year old man and a baby. They looked everywhere. They thought of everything that they could think of. They kept running into the same thing. Mr. Hall was convinced that there was a relationship that wouldput all the pieces together. They kept going back to the same thing. The were convinced that there was something to do with the old man's ulcer. Eventually they found out that the mysterious germ could live with no protein. They could not believe this descovery because there was nothing else known that could run with no proteins. They also concluded that the virus started at teh lungs and then would clot the blood so the person would suffocate. Throught the whole book they kept thinking otf the most complex answer but it was right beneath their nose.
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Title: Sphere by MICHAEL CRICHTON ISBN: 0345353145 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 12 July, 1988 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Timeline by MICHAEL CRICHTON ISBN: 0345417623 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 24 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The Terminal Man by Michael Crichton ISBN: 0060092572 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 05 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton ISBN: 0345370775 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 13 November, 1991 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Airframe by Michael Crichton ISBN: 0345402871 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 28 September, 1997 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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