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Amazon.co.uk Review
Some biologists speculate that if we ever make contact with extraterrestrials, those life forms are likely to be--like most life on Earth--one-celled creatures or less, more comparable to bacteria than little green men. And even though such organisms would not likely be able to harm humans, the possibility exists that first contact might be our last.
That's the scientific supposition that Michael Crichton formulates and follows out to its conclusion in his excellent debut novel, TheAndromeda Strain. A Nobel-winning bacteriologist, Jeremy Stone, urges the president to approve an extraterrestrial decontamination facility, to sterilise returning astronauts, satellites and spacecraft that might carry such an "unknown biologic agent." The government agrees, almost too quickly, to build the top- secret Wildfire Lab in the desert of Nevada. Shortly thereafter, unbeknownst to Stone, the US Army initiates the "Scoop" satellite program, an attempt to actively collect space pathogens for use in biological warfare. When Scoop VII crashes a couple years later in the isolated Arizona town of Piedmont, they end up getting more than they asked for.
The Andromeda Strain follows Stone and rest of the scientific team mobilised to react to the Scoop crash, as they scramble to understand and contain a strange and deadly outbreak. Crichton's first book may well be his best, with an earnestness missing from his later, more calculated thrillers. --Paul Hughes, Amazon.com
Product Description
Five prominent biophysicists give the United States government an urgent warning: sterilzation procedures for returning space probes may be inadequate to guarantee uncontaminated re-entry to the atmosphere. Two years later, Project Scoop sends seventeen satellites into the fringes of space in order to 'collect organisms and dust for study'. Then a probe falls to the earth, landing in a desolate area of northeastern Arizona. A little while later, in the nearby town of Piedmont, bodies are discovered heaped and flung across the ground, faces locked in frozen surprise. The terror has begun. . .
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an enjoyable book which is unfortunately let down by a poor ending. This book is a mock report of a supposedly real event where a rogue element is introduced into the earth's atmosphere which causes instantaneous death to many members of a town in America and the surrounding events. It is a bit of a page turner but not in the same class as Airframe or Timeline, as with all Michael Crichton books it is excellently researched and ultimately believable but there's no real twists as in other books by Crichton, in fact the ending is rather weak which I was very disappointed with - if this is going to be your first Crichton book then I'd advise you to read one(or all!) of either Jurassic Park, Congo, Airframe or Timeline (if you want a real page turner then I'd go with timeline but if you've already read these it's worth reading but you'll be slightly disappointed I think.
Format:Paperback
One of my favourite books of all time. Crichton on top form once again. The Odd Man Hypothesis, Kalocin, The navys study of the psychological effects of colour all explained in this book.
Format:Paperback
Actually I did quite enjoy this, if the pace is somewhat slow. This is a well-researched "novel", and looks at how America would respond to a biological threat from space.
It doesn't feel like a novel, more of a factual account at times, Crichton inserts print out, phone messages etc to give this a more real feel to it.
Out of interest, I did try to google some of the references, however I struggled to find them, so I am not sure how real these sources maybe.
Overall, an interesting read for any classic sci-fi fan.
It doesn't feel like a novel, more of a factual account at times, Crichton inserts print out, phone messages etc to give this a more real feel to it.
Out of interest, I did try to google some of the references, however I struggled to find them, so I am not sure how real these sources maybe.
Overall, an interesting read for any classic sci-fi fan.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not Michael Crichton's best
Read this book on my Kindle. If I am totally board with a novel then normally I will not finish it so this is by no means a bad book but I have read so much better by the author. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mr
Just falls short of 5 star,
First and foremost, this book is by no means his best, but it damn near comes close. I thought the character development in this novel was amazing, I felt like i knew the... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Richard R
the admirable crichton falls at the first gate
I bought the 'Andromeda Strain' on the strength of 'Timeline' and I have to say I was a bit disappointed with Crichton's first effort, the story suffers from passages which read as... Read more
Published 21 months ago by N.Evans
Rushed ending
This is the first Michael Crichton novel that I've read and when it turned up in the post I was mildly alarmed that it wasn't quite the thick 600 pager that I pictured and instead... Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2010 by Shaun Burnett
Sci-fi docu-drama
The Scoop VII satellite scoops up something nasty and lands in a small town in Nevada. As the whole town die apart from a new-born and the town drunk, the search is on for the... Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2009 by Officer Dibble
perfectly conceived
I found this book to be a perfectly conceived techno-thriller/earth bound science fiction story. I have enjoyed some other Crichton, John Wyndham and Arthur C Clarke stuff and... Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2008 by Mr Gibbs
Disappointing
I have only recenty begun reading Michael Crichton (Next, Prey, Airframe) and have really enjoyed his work. Read more
Published on 25 July 2007 by oohmercyme
Oh My God
What a let down. Supposedly his best book, but it's ending is such a disappointment. I was actually really getting into the story and then it just finishes. Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2003
Fantastic strain of fiction
Could not put this excellent book down a pure joy to read, has you engaged from start to finish. Dr. hall the true hero in this book bringing forward the odd man theory. Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2002 by Mr. J. P. J. Stobbart
My first Michael Crichton book....very good concept, but...
A very good idea for a book about an extra-terrestrial virus being carried back to Earth. The book concentrates on the work of scientists trying to find a cure for the devestating... Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2001 by "jaguar00"
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