Scan barcode
A review by omair
Prey by Michael Crichton
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Ah yes, another Michael Crichton novel. It has all the signatures. The emphasis on the science part of science fiction, the clear effort to craft a narrative in which you can discover something about your own ethical standing, and the hundreds of paragraphs to make sure you knew that Crichton really does his research.
Don't get me wrong - I actually very much enjoy this book. Over a decade after Jurassic Park, this is, in many ways, a reskin. Cutting edge technology theorized upon by the greatest minds but never thought to be seriously viable. The dilemma that comes with having that technology, the hubris in mishandling it, and the fallout from there. Sprinkle in a father figure with some bratty kids floating around and BAM. If you liked one of Jurassic Park or Lost World, I'm pretty confident you'll like Prey.
The tone Crichton carries in this work is really what sells it to me. It is, by most measures, a very predictable story, with beats that have been done time and again. But even if you know what's coming every step of the way, you don't mind reading on - or at least I didn't.
There is a lot more technical filler than maybe what is necessary, and the chapters with it definitely are bogged down enough to prevent a higher rating. But this may just be a personal thing as I'm now (re-)reading this long after the tech concepts are not exactly groundbreaking and my technical understanding is much greater than first read.
The only other real criticism I have with the book is that our protagonist is... kinda a schmuck haha. But ultimately, he's just a dude trying to make it and do right by his family, and that's quite alright. Just... you know... I hope he works on his flaws.
It's the end of March as I write this, and for anyone that stumbles across this review - if the summer months are coming and you're intrigued by the cover of the book, I'd say give it a read. It really carries the energy of the annual summer blockbuster movie, with similar strengths and pitfalls. It might not be worthy of standing in the spotlight with Jurassic Park, but it certainly lands somewhere on the island.
Don't get me wrong - I actually very much enjoy this book. Over a decade after Jurassic Park, this is, in many ways, a reskin. Cutting edge technology theorized upon by the greatest minds but never thought to be seriously viable. The dilemma that comes with having that technology, the hubris in mishandling it, and the fallout from there. Sprinkle in a father figure with some bratty kids floating around and BAM. If you liked one of Jurassic Park or Lost World, I'm pretty confident you'll like Prey.
The tone Crichton carries in this work is really what sells it to me. It is, by most measures, a very predictable story, with beats that have been done time and again. But even if you know what's coming every step of the way, you don't mind reading on - or at least I didn't.
There is a lot more technical filler than maybe what is necessary, and the chapters with it definitely are bogged down enough to prevent a higher rating. But this may just be a personal thing as I'm now (re-)reading this long after the tech concepts are not exactly groundbreaking and my technical understanding is much greater than first read.
The only other real criticism I have with the book is that our protagonist is... kinda a schmuck haha. But ultimately, he's just a dude trying to make it and do right by his family, and that's quite alright. Just... you know... I hope he works on his flaws.
It's the end of March as I write this, and for anyone that stumbles across this review - if the summer months are coming and you're intrigued by the cover of the book, I'd say give it a read. It really carries the energy of the annual summer blockbuster movie, with similar strengths and pitfalls. It might not be worthy of standing in the spotlight with Jurassic Park, but it certainly lands somewhere on the island.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death