Sphere

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I will not delve into spoilers, but I had a grand time trying to figure out what was going on in the murky depths. Once the sphere is brought to the forefront and you have an understanding of what is going on, other strange occurrences start to happen. The habitat is seemingly changing its layout, others seem to be losing their wits, and some crew are even becoming much more beautiful as time rolls on. Weird! Interesting premise that held my attention up until the middle of the book, where improbable things start happening and Crichton failed to make them feel real I did like that this book was focused on Psychology and that it explored the shadow self, but I thought I was going to be on the edge of my seat. Which I was not. I was half asleep. That being said, what I really love about Michael Crichton’s books is that he makes science really fun and explains it in a way that someone who isn’t scientifically inclined, AKA me, can understand and really enjoy it. I could also laugh at science-y jokes like I knew what was going one which made me feel smart and cool. Although it was sizable cast, each character had such a distinctive and memorable personality. The book to some extent was about how these different personalities would react in a crisis situation, and overall, I think Crichton did a good job fleshing that out. The story had some gender and racial stereotypes that made me uncomfortable at times, in part because I wasn’t sure what the author was trying to say, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was trying to raise awareness of how the stereotypes and prejudice that people can be inundated with may harm (generic comments, but might be kind of spoilerish if one were planning to read the book soon) their mental health and their self-perception.

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. Publication Series: Sphere Science Fiction Classics". isfdb.org. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017 . Retrieved 19 June 2017. After the success of Star Wars, author Alan Dean Foster wrote a second stand-alone novel, titled Splinter of the Mind’s Eye– a tale of Luke, Leia and the droids, marooned on a remote jungle planet and pursued by Darth Vader. The book was intended as a potential low-budget sequel had the original Star Wars movie been a flop, but instead was launched to feed the insatiable appetite of fans for new content between movies.In August 2020, Entertainment Weekly reported that HBO would be developing a television series based on the novel. [4] Reception [ edit ] Beth Halpern is a 36-year-old zoologist/ biochemist at the University of Chicago. She's a serious weightlifter and runner. Her recent work has been studying cephalopods. Her thesis is that if not for their three year life span, octopi might be the dominant intelligence on earth. Beth reveals to Norman that Barnes is ex-Navy and as a member of the Defense Science Board, advises the Joint Chiefs of Staff on weapons acquisitions. This book is a combination of psychological thriller and science fiction. It follows a group of scientists as they investigate what is thought to be an alien vessel that crashed on the ocean floor. However, the danger which resides within the fin is much more enigmatic and sneakily awful than the alien vegetable in the movie. The book maintains a solid footing in speculative sci-fi from beginning to end, and although the dialogue reminded me of 'The Thing...' movie, the mystery behind the fin reminded me of Solaris a b Williams, Kevin (2009). Read All About It!: A History of the British Newspaper. Routledge. ISBN 978-1134280520 . Retrieved 19 June 2017.

Crichton doesn't explore the implications of the magic sphere in nearly as much depth as he could have. Why aren't characters inundated with pink elephants when they desperately try not to think about them? Why can't characters imagine their way out of problems? The only thing the power seems to do is throw monsters at the habitat. It creates a setting that is on the cusp of reality and stages it with a believable cast of characters. They may not be right for the job, but they use their unique skills and training to make the best of the situation. The plan after their submarine trip down to the pressurized habitat is to examine and explore the mysterious fin's exterior for seventy-two hours. No one expected the huge hurricane which drives off the Navy ships supporting the habitat - or sudden appearance of the door in the fin... This was very fast paced and I never really got bored as it always kept me on edge with new revelations throughout. I gotta say, this novel was written way ahead of its time- 35 years ahead of time to be exact. I’d probably believe it if someone said this was released in the last five years because it still felt super modern. Sphere is not set in space, but it might as well be. It takes the reader deep into the darkest part of the ocean where unfathomable pressure forces threaten to crush and demolish, where the only breathable oxygen is what you bring with you, where the landscape is as alien and inhospitable as anything found in outer space.

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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. But something was keeping me from investing in the characters. I just couldn't relate to any of them on a personal level, and I didn't much care who survived to the end of the book. It’s an event enjoyed by both die hard fans and families alike and has raised thousands of pounds for charity. Myths had once represented the common knowledge of humanity, and they served as a kind of map of consciousness." //