Paperback, 500 pages
English language
Published April 17, 1998 by Pan Books.
In the South Pacific, 1000 feet beneath the surface, a spaceship rests on the ocean floor - a spaceship at least 300 years old. Has it come from an alien culture? From a different universe? From the future?
Four scientists are rushed to the scene: an astrophysicist, a biologist, a mathematician and a psychologist and together they descend into the depths of the sea to investigate.
The riddle seems unsolvable. Then someone or something begins to transmit messages onto their computer screen: messages that grow increasingly hostile and hint at a terrifying power...
SPHERE is Michael Crichton at the top of his form. An astounding combination of action, suspense and science that probes the darkest corners of the mind where man's deadliest enemy lurks. --back cover
This is my fourth Michael Chrichton book, and I am beginning to understand the template. An expert in his field, pulled away to an isolated location, where humans are meddling with forces beyond their full understanding. The under water setting was unnerving. It worked. I turned the pages.
I wouldn't call this book terrible, but it is quite unexciting. The plot has holes the size of an alien sphere and while the premise has potential, that potential is basically wasted in a ho-hum development.
Which brings me to the execution. This is the first novel by Mr. Crichton I've read so far (cue in the "Shame!" scene from the Game of Thrones) and I cannot claim I've become his fan. Writing is dull and not engaging, with clichés abound, the vocabulary and dialogues rather simplistic, and the characters one-dimensional.
Overall, I don't feel the time spent on the book was a total waste but I cannot really recommend it.
This book starts with a team of 5 being brought together by the US Navy to investigate a spaceship discovered on the ocean floor — that has apparently been there for 300 years. They go down underwater to investigate, staying in a habitat on the seafloor. But as they stay down there, they may find that the greatest danger is not the ship, but each other.
Can't help comparing this to [b:The Andromeda Strain|7670|The Andromeda Strain (Andromeda, #1)|Michael Crichton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587497243l/7670.SY75.jpg|997271], so here goes...
Better:
Feels more cinematic & technobabble delivery is smoother
Cast of characters is more diverse
I like the psychological approach to the first contact
Worse:
Characters behave unprofessionally to the point of becoming unbelievable
There's a focus on characters' behavior, but Crichton falls short in this
Diverse characters end up very stereotypical
I did not care for this book. Really bad science and a weak story. That the book is better than the movie is only telling thing about the movie.
