Hardcover, 385 pages
English language
Published April 17, 1987 by Alfred A. Knopf.
In the middle of the South Pacific, a thousand feet below the surface of the water, a huge spaceship is discovered resting on the ocean floor.
Rushed to the scene is a group of American scientists who descend together into the depths of the sea to investigate this astonishing discovery.
What they find defies their imaginations and mocks their attempts at logical explanation. It is a spaceship of phenomenal dimensions, apparently undamaged by its fall from the sky. And, most startling, it appears to be at least three hundred years old...
Has the ship come from an alien culture? From a different universe? From the future? Why, initially, are there no creatures on the sea floor, and then, suddenly, swarms of "impossible animals" of whole new species? Who-or what-is transmitting messages onto the scientists' computer screen...messages that grow increasingly hostile? What is the giant, perfect, metallic sphere-clearly not made by …
In the middle of the South Pacific, a thousand feet below the surface of the water, a huge spaceship is discovered resting on the ocean floor.
Rushed to the scene is a group of American scientists who descend together into the depths of the sea to investigate this astonishing discovery.
What they find defies their imaginations and mocks their attempts at logical explanation. It is a spaceship of phenomenal dimensions, apparently undamaged by its fall from the sky. And, most startling, it appears to be at least three hundred years old...
Has the ship come from an alien culture? From a different universe? From the future? Why, initially, are there no creatures on the sea floor, and then, suddenly, swarms of "impossible animals" of whole new species? Who-or what-is transmitting messages onto the scientists' computer screen...messages that grow increasingly hostile? What is the giant, perfect, metallic sphere-clearly not made by man, and seemingly impenetrable by him-that they find inside the spaceship? And-most crucially-what is the extraordinary, the terrifying power that threatens their undersea habitat, and their very lives?...
Here is Michael Crichton at the top of his form-his most exciting, most suspenseful, most ingenious novel since The Andromeda Strain --front flap
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.
