Back in 1993, after reading Jurassic Park (see review of that book HERE), I was like in Crichton-mode actived! ;)So, my next novel had to be by Michael Crichton!I went to the bookstore and this one was the first book that I checked and after reading the premise, I found it promising. ;)So, I bought it and started to read it.WoW!!!!!!!Since the beginning I was in shock amalgamated with happiness since the style and mood of the novel was astonishing good. (Of course, by then I hadn't read yet The Andromeda Strain, so the idea of gathering a group of expert scientist to deal with something alien was something new for me :P )I don't know if happens to you, that sometimes if you are reading a novel that it hasn't being made into a film yet (I read the novel like 5 years before to be poorly adapted to a movie) sometimes I imagined some actor or actress to "play" the role of the character in my mind, an amusing thing was by then, in 1993, Sharon Stone was in hype due films like "Basic Instinct" and "Sliver", so when I imagined some actress to fill my image of Dr. Beth Halperin, I thought in Sharon Stone that she eventually got the role!Honest to God! True story!Curiously, 5 years later, Sharon Stone wasn't in hype anymore so, knowing that she was casted in the role that I pictured in my mind was amusing but odd at the same time.I didn't picture Dustin Hoffman for the role of Dr. Goodman, no offense to Mr. Hoffman, which is an actor that I admired a lot, but I thought in Sean Connery for that character.Anyway, the film was a big dissapointment for me since it was very poor adaptation to such excellent book, so if you ever watched the film and you didn't like it, don't worry, that's normal, but please, if that's the reason that you haven't read this novel yet, please go and read it! (Of course, if you have the luck of not having watched the film, please, PLEASE, don't watch it!)I can assure you that the novel is way, way, WAY, better in infinite ways than that mediocre film.I already mentioned the style and mood of the book, I just want to take the topic again to mention that it was a thrilling experience, since you feel that the story is taken very seriously from the scientific angle.All the journey and process of exploring the alien ship is brilliant, you feel that you are there, down in the bottom in the ocean with them, walking with them.There is a major spoiler in this book, that I won't comment here, don't worry, but please avoid at all costs to know that spoiler if you choose to read the book, since it's that kind of spoilers that if you already knew it before of reading the book, simply you will ruin all the fun of actually reading the book and making the investigation along with the scientist group.If you like sci-fi book and/or techno-thriller novels, this is a GREAT option.Highly recommended.
Sphere starts out with this guy named Norman. He is a psychologist. One day he got a call from the Navy. They asked him if he wants to go and discover this spacecraft they found at the bottom of the ocean. He said yes. Little does he know that he is in for one exploration. Norman is with three other people. They get to the site and they are told to live in a habitat on the bottom of the ocean. Norman doesn't think it is a good idea, but he lives there anyway. Then the next day they start exploring. They found the spacecraft, but to their surprise its from the United States. Their only explanation is it was accidentally sent through time. Soon the crew wants to go and discover the inside of the spacecraft,so they do. It was weird inside. It had all new technology that they have never seen before. Then they found a weird object named the sphere. Norman took it back to the habitat. Little does he know it has weird powers. The crew tries to open it, but they cant. Then Harry, one of the crew mates opens it and goes inside. He is in the sphere for about two days. Then he comes out and says he has a bad headache. But then something messages them on their computer board. It says its name is Jerry. Jerry says he wants to be friends, but weird and deadly things happen. Sea animals that where extinct come and attack the habitat. People die. Jerry was actually Harry. He entered the sphere and gained the power of his thoughts becoming a reality. Then Norman enters the sphere, and has the same powers as Harry. They are all about to die. Then the Navy comes and picks them up.Norman is a very cool headed guy. He is also very laid back. He doesn't care about much until bad things happen. When bad things happen he tries to take care of everybody and make them well again. He is one of the most important people in the story. He is also not the most fit to stay in the habitat. He does have a wife and kids also.This book would be good for any adult looking for adventure. This book has a lot of new technology in it too. If you like technology it would be a good book also. It shows you how much courage a human can have when in an emergency. It is a little blood and gory. It would not be good for little kids. This book would be for any gender. It also shows what life would be like in a nutshell.I rated this book five out of five because it is interesting in all of the parts of the book. It never gets boring. I like how it shows courage and responsibility. As I said it is a good book for action seekers. All in all it was an amazing book.
What do You think about Sphere (1997)?
All I'm going to say about Crichton is that he has a knack for what I call the "miracle ending". In one summer I read Congo, Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, Terminal Man, The Great Train Robbery and Sphere. I felt the same about each of them when I finished each. He's a very good writer with captivating storylines, dead on science, compelling plot and in depth characters, but...I feel like he gets tired of writing the same story or can't properly tie things together at the end so he has some miraculous event do it for him.
—Ed G
Sphere tackles a lot of science fiction favorites - telepathy, mental influence of reality, undersea exploration, undiscovered life forms, extraterrestrials and a weird kind of time travel that I still haven’t wrapped my mind around ten years after the first time I read it. These elements swirl around a small crew who are sent to examine an interstellar sphere underneath our oceans. Claustrophobia and paranoia set in on the group, especially as the truly bizarre things start to happen. Easily Cr
—John Wiswell
My A-Level classmate Melissa Yong lend me this novel, in reply to my question "I want to start to read good books. Anything you'd recommend?".I was hooked with MC since then. After the 10th, page, I think.In this novel, Mr. Crichton describes about puzzles and deciphers, alien tech, scuba diving (he's an avid diver himself), and many more different knowledge.[added 17.02.15]:[This one included MC's narration on the field of psychology and some mathematics as well. I'm not that interested in the subject and it failed to spark my interest in it. Still, the storyline is okay.I hate (love) the dramatic sequence near the ending, to the point of nearly stopping my breath and increased heart rate; at the same time enjoying the play in my head.I'd like to put a quote from the book in here which resonates well with me:"This special ability of imagination is what has made your species as great as it is.""Your greatness lies in your imagination."]There's a movie, too. Not half as good as the novel, as always. Although, putting in the then hot leading actress, it's not a success.I lost Melissa's book in the bus. Need to get me one, and re-read it again.
—Akmal Hizam
