Sphere - Michael Crichton
Within a space ship lying on the sea bottom is a mysterious sphere that promises each of ... more
the main characters some personal reward: military might, professional prestige, power, understanding. Trapped underwater with the sphere, the humans confront...
A review by StuartAdamson on Sphere - Michael Crichton August 8th, 2000
Author's product rating:
Would you read it again?
Absolutely
Story
Outstanding
Characters
Outstanding
Readability
Excellent
How does it compare to other works by the same author?
Excellent
Advantages:
Gripping read, very descriptive, intense .
Disadvantages:
Film does not do it justice .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
This is one of many Michael Crichton books that has been turned into films. And like the rest of the films they don't come close to the book.
Sphere is about a group of scientists that’s are sent to explore this mysterious craft found at the bottom of the ocean. The team go aboard and a big sphere. Whilst the rest of the team is exploring the rest of the craft one of the members disappears inside of the sphere.
After that the trouble starts. Big octopuses attack the station, people get killed, and the worst thing is they can't go to the surface as there is a storm that means there are no ships uptop.
Eventually the three remaining workers work out that there are causing the problems by thinking power. They eventually get of the station and whilst in the decompression chamber think together that they will lose all the power they got whilst down there.
This book is a impelling read, once I picked it up I could not put the book down. I know that everyone says that just to promote a book. But this time it is genuine.
If you have not seen the film or read the book go read the book first, this way the story does not get distorted.
Advantages: Clever and tense. Disadvantages: The impact may be blunted if you`ve seen the movie first.
...glittering orb - a perfect sphere of liquid metal - that lies within.
The Hoffman/Stone/L.Jackson movie was a fair stab at the nerve-jangling psychological effects of contact with an alien artifact -but the book delves deeper in the psyche of its characters, their fears and irrationalities are magnified by the claustrophobic surroundings and the slowly emerging evil they unleash from the alien sphere.
Is it alien? From where, and when, did it come? ... ...`Jerry` become? How many people have to die in the most terrifying manner before they realise exactly what they are up against?
The characters are strong, the animosity between them adds to the tension and Crichton`s ingenuity and style carry you along for a chilling ride. ...
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Advantages: Once you have got to the good bit - it is REALY GOOD... Disadvantages: ... But it takes quite a while to get to this realy good bit.
This is a great book however it takes a while to start off and very confusing at times with some complicated reasonings and terminoligy. However if you can overlook that what is left is a very exciting and gripping book. A must read along with the rest of the Michael Chricton books. This book is somewhat unrealistic however don't let this put you off as it adds to the excitement of the book. However this is quite a long book and can get rather tiring ... ...buy this book as it would be highly inappropriate for a child to read.
And one word of advise if you have seen the film of this book i do not advise purchasing it as it does ruin the whole book, but if you haven't seen the film i would definitely buy/read this book (and watch the film after - because its pretty good) ...
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Advantages: A Good Well-Written Adventure Disadvantages: If you don't like technical. then some of the passages may be a bit boring
...on the way seeing such strange sights as might be from other worlds. Nemo keeps to himself a lot and despite great amiability towards the mariner avoids talking about himself or his mission.
This book is Verne at his best. In some of his other works the story is compromised to make way for technical details but in Twenty Thousand Leagues it is complimented wonderfully to give the complete experience and take the reader on the journey and into the mystery. If Verne was living today MichaelCrichton (Jurassic Park, The Sphere) wouldn't stand a chance....
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helpful 11.08.2001
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11.08.2001
