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Out of town... — Page 15

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yeah I have, and like I said, couldn't stop reading it either, but I'm starting to get tired of his style. his recent books have all the same structure: there is a new technology being discovered, something goes wrong, a group of scientists (everyone with a different special skill) is sent there to repair it, but it doesn't go as planned, scientists are in trouble, some survive and some don't, at the end threat is annihinlated. This works for Jurassic Park, Lost World, Sphere, Timeline and Prey.
On the plus side, it is true you get to learn a lot, it is explained in an approacheble way, Crichton's research is well done. And there are books which escape this scheme: Great Train Robbery, 13th warrior, airframe, rising sun. But these are older ones. Recently he hasn't changed much. Nevertheless, I know I will be buying every book he is going to publish...
"Last night, Darth Vader came down from planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn't take Lorraine out that he'd melt my brain."
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nope havent read Prey yet? what is it about?
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."
Qui-Gon Jinn (R.I.P.)
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I can definitely agree with you on his lack of change in his approach as of late, HG. That is true and I would love to see him return to a period piece like Great Train Robbert or Eaters of the Dead (a damn fine novel in its own right as well).

Motti, Prey is about nanotechnology in which scientists create nanodrones that are intended to fly around over enemy territory undetected. Then, when ready to strike, they form together to create a nanocloud that can attack and destroy just about anything. However, these nanobugs, in combination with the AI implanted in them, start to develop intelligence and evolve and they get loose.

I may be a bit off on my description as it's been well over a year since I read it.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
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I haven't read Crichton in a long time. In fact I wasn't even a reader of his until one summer when I was visiting my uncle in Hong Kong. But wouldn't you know it, the second I step foot off the plane I get sick. Now I'm stuck inside, semi-feverish with absolutely nothing to do. I eventually check out my uncle's bookshelf and there he has a bunch of bestsellers (stuff I don't normally touch with a ten foot pole).

Well I had nothing better to do so I crack one open, and go. Before you know it I've finished the Great Train Robbery, Andromeda Strain, Sphere, Jurassic Park, Congo, Disclosure, and a few others I can't think of. I enjoyed them. He has a great easy style that makes for perfect brain candy, but too much and that sameness of style becomes all too apparent. They tend to be structured the same and populated with similar characters. For the most part, I found them dramatically lightweight and therefore forgettable. The one I remember best and liked the most was the Great Train Robbery, it was the most distinctive and unlike the others was a caper book, always a fun genre. The one I liked the least was Disclosure with its forced situations and heavy handed sexual politics. Nonetheless, they were all good page turners and much better than the bunch of Grisham’s I read after finishing all the Crichton’s (but that’s another story). Now that it’s been a number years, maybe it’s time to try another one again. So Prey is good, huh?
The original Star Wars trilogy: Our cultural history deserves to be preserved and should be available to the public like all great works of art!
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its in the oddest way someone finds something good.
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."
Qui-Gon Jinn (R.I.P.)
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If you're finding them to be formulaic, then beware because Prey does closely follow that same formula. But if you feel you've been removed from his books long enough (like I was) then I don't see it being so bad. The science behind the story is what really makes it. But, isn't that the case with many of his novels?
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
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Quote
Originally posted by: motti_soL
its in the oddest way someone finds something good.


lol.
The original Star Wars trilogy: Our cultural history deserves to be preserved and should be available to the public like all great works of art!
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funny, but true though sweyland
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."
Qui-Gon Jinn (R.I.P.)
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We all have our little eccentricities, don't we?
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
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every single one of us.
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."
Qui-Gon Jinn (R.I.P.)
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and we love 'em!
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
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That we do! (whew, just glad I ain't alone)
The original Star Wars trilogy: Our cultural history deserves to be preserved and should be available to the public like all great works of art!
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Nah, you're far from alone.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com