jazzyjan94's review against another edition
3.0
This review appears on my blog: https://confessionsofabookwormweb.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/book-review-the-andromenda-strain-by-michael-crichton/
Ever since I came across The Andromeda Strain during my undergrad, I was intrigued by the whole concept of a virus from outerspace that could potentially have a fatal affect on the whole of humanity. However, it took me over five years to finally pick it up because I forgot about it, and when I rediscovered it I was also scared that it would be too scary. However, I decided to pick it up because of the concept and the fact that I want to say that I have read at least one Michael Crichton book.
One quiet night a space satellite crashes in the small Arizona town of Piedmont. Within several hours the town is reduced to a ghost town and almost all the residents are dead except for an elderly gentleman and a baby. The United States government dispatches a specialized team known as the Wildfire project ,which consists of four biophysicists who each have their own expertise within the field and they must try and crack the mysteriousness of the Andromeda strain, which could potentially destroy all of humanity if it spreads.
The Andromeda Strain was an interesting read, but it definitely isn’t for everyone. For one, it is setup to read as if the reader is reading an actual government file of everything that happened during this case, and therefore there is also a lot of “scientific” information that some will find interesting and others will find a waste of time to read.
For those who are into the “scientific” information, this will be an entertaining read because it is told as if it really happened, especially with the inclusion of footnotes, and a reference section at the end of the book! It also interesting to read because it was published during the time of the Space Race, and the Cold War, which gives further insight into some of the actions and precautions that are taken throughout the novel, especially by the scientists.
Even though it is a somewhat thrilling read, it will leave some readers disappointed with an anticlimatic ending that seems rushed. However, the scientific information given, especially with how Crichton decides to wrap things up. 3.5/5 Stars.
Ever since I came across The Andromeda Strain during my undergrad, I was intrigued by the whole concept of a virus from outerspace that could potentially have a fatal affect on the whole of humanity. However, it took me over five years to finally pick it up because I forgot about it, and when I rediscovered it I was also scared that it would be too scary. However, I decided to pick it up because of the concept and the fact that I want to say that I have read at least one Michael Crichton book.
One quiet night a space satellite crashes in the small Arizona town of Piedmont. Within several hours the town is reduced to a ghost town and almost all the residents are dead except for an elderly gentleman and a baby. The United States government dispatches a specialized team known as the Wildfire project ,which consists of four biophysicists who each have their own expertise within the field and they must try and crack the mysteriousness of the Andromeda strain, which could potentially destroy all of humanity if it spreads.
The Andromeda Strain was an interesting read, but it definitely isn’t for everyone. For one, it is setup to read as if the reader is reading an actual government file of everything that happened during this case, and therefore there is also a lot of “scientific” information that some will find interesting and others will find a waste of time to read.
For those who are into the “scientific” information, this will be an entertaining read because it is told as if it really happened, especially with the inclusion of footnotes, and a reference section at the end of the book! It also interesting to read because it was published during the time of the Space Race, and the Cold War, which gives further insight into some of the actions and precautions that are taken throughout the novel, especially by the scientists.
Even though it is a somewhat thrilling read, it will leave some readers disappointed with an anticlimatic ending that seems rushed. However, the scientific information given, especially with how Crichton decides to wrap things up. 3.5/5 Stars.
alexauthorshay's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Having read "The Ritual" before this and that book now being my comparison point for how bad a book can be, this book wasn't that bad. That said, it wasn't that good either. The entire cast is cishet white men, scientists and army folk to boot, and they spend most of their time doing experiments and tests trying to figure out what kind of microbe or whatever is on a satellite. It's a bit too science heavy for the layman reader, to the point that it feels like Cooke is just showing off his science knowledge to be an asshole. But the general research environment and how they analyzed the microbe was interesting enough to my biology-intrigued brain.
Where things begin to fall apart is with the characters and plot (if you can say this book even has one). Cooke tried to write this book as if it were nonfiction, so it has a very dry/factual vibe about it. The characters themselves were interesting enough to keep reading the book for, but they were ultimately stock characters there to fulfill a purpose, not to grow and evolve as characters. They didn't change from start to finish, or ultimately learn anything of significance about themselves or the world. The worst part is the plot, though. I'm reluctant to say there even was a plot, because the only things that happened beyond examination of an alien being were human mistakes. There is no real antagonist in this book, which isn't a problem per se, but the only "tension" and "suspense" in the whole book was Cooke slipping in that someone somewhere screwed up some thing or some technology broke and caused some issue. Had none of those things happened, everything would have gone smoothly. And even despite all that, the ending is very deus ex machina, and ultimately had none of the characters done any of what they had done, the ultimate outcome of the novel would have been exactly the same, plus or minus some more people dying.
It feels more like it should have been either a short story or was just a rambling thought experiment. There isn't enough here to sustain an actual novel and many elements are missing. As a thought experiment, as something to get people considering technology, alien life, etc, it functions well. But as a story with a plot, not so much.
Where things begin to fall apart is with the characters and plot (if you can say this book even has one). Cooke tried to write this book as if it were nonfiction, so it has a very dry/factual vibe about it. The characters themselves were interesting enough to keep reading the book for, but they were ultimately stock characters there to fulfill a purpose, not to grow and evolve as characters. They didn't change from start to finish, or ultimately learn anything of significance about themselves or the world. The worst part is the plot, though. I'm reluctant to say there even was a plot, because the only things that happened beyond examination of an alien being were human mistakes. There is no real antagonist in this book, which isn't a problem per se, but the only "tension" and "suspense" in the whole book was Cooke slipping in that someone somewhere screwed up some thing or some technology broke and caused some issue. Had none of those things happened, everything would have gone smoothly. And even despite all that, the ending is very deus ex machina, and ultimately had none of the characters done any of what they had done, the ultimate outcome of the novel would have been exactly the same, plus or minus some more people dying.
It feels more like it should have been either a short story or was just a rambling thought experiment. There isn't enough here to sustain an actual novel and many elements are missing. As a thought experiment, as something to get people considering technology, alien life, etc, it functions well. But as a story with a plot, not so much.
lakecake's review
3.0
Heavy on the science, so a little confusing at times, but still a fast, exciting read. And SO much better than the A&E miniseries this summer, because that was pretty bad.
taggerung's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
jayghoshrao's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting premise and plot. But an abruptly anticlimactic end.
evelien_vh's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
c_rewie6's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.25