Rising Sun / Jurassic Park / Sphere

by Michael Crichton

Here are three of Michael Crichton's research-intensive thrillers in one dandy box. Rising Sun was as timely in 1992 as it now seems ironic. It brilliantly taps the early-'90s American terror of Japan's then apparently invincible high-tech economy with a snappy murder mystery. While celebs rub elbows at the opening party of a Japanese high-rise in L.A., a gorgeous woman is murdered in a boardroom far above. Surveillance cameras capture the deed, but looks deceive, and LAPD detective John Conner soon discovers that when these Japanese guys say "business is war," they're not kidding.

Jurassic Park--the famous tale of an entrepreneur who clones dinosaurs who then run amok in what was supposed to be a theme park--is as good a thriller in book form as the movie version, and far more full of the fun, scary ideas that Crichton's books exist to popularize. Malcolm the malcontent scientist is even better than he was in the film. (You might also check out The Science of Jurassic Park and the Lost World.)

Sphere concerns an ancient spaceship on the ocean floor, black holes, and the perils of investigating all of the above. Not just sci-fi, Sphere reflects Crichton's keen interest in the unexplained powers of the human mind. The book also contains a profound lesson: when you're staring down a giant squid with an eyeball the size of a dinner plate, don't blink first.

Genres: Fiction

paper

First published November 1, 1993

About the author

Michael Crichton (1942-2008) was one of the most successful novelists of his generation, admired for his meticulous scientific research and fast-paced narrative. He graduated summa cum laude and earned his MD from Harvard Medical School in 1969. His first novel, Odds On (1966), was written under the pseudonym John Lange and was followed by seven more Lange novels. He also wrote as Michael Douglas and Jeffery Hudson. His novel A Case of Need won the Edgar Award in 1969. Popular throughout the world, he has sold more than 200 million books. His novels have been translated into thirty-eight languages, and thirteen have been made into films.

Michael Crichton died of lymphoma in 2008. He was 66 years old.

Reviews

[Kannon Keim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book ⅘ stars because I enjoyed all the action it had in it. Many things were different from the movie. I disliked the book because it took a while to get into it. I also liked the humor that was in the book sometimes, and the author did a good job at describing.

Many of the things that happened in the book didn’t happen in the movie. I thought that was nice knowing more about the actual story. Like in the beginning of the movie, a guy doesn’t get attacked by a velociraptor. It is more like jurassic world in the beginning.

I disliked this book because in chapter around 4-7 it was pretty boring and it took a while for things to happen. I did like how on page 49 it added part from the movie on where scientists talk about it being a new species of lizard. It also has some humor, when the scientist talk about how his kid drew a dinosaur better than the scientist. Many of the parts where everyone should be quiet, one of the weird scientists would make a noise and ruin their cover.

Overall I think Michael Crichton did a good job, There were sometimes I thought I could feel a dinosaur breathing on the back of my neck. When a dinosaur first was attacking people I didn’t even know what would happen next, everything was so sudden.

I would recommend this book to people who like action and a little bit or paleontology. It is a very descriptive book and I think everyone should read it, if you liked the movie you would like the book.

[LambchoP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Crichton is one of the best science fiction writers of all time! He single handedly coined the genre "techno thriller", and while there have been authors who have written these kinds of books since, no one has done it better than Mr. Crichton. One of my top three authors of all time:)

[Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some people love dinosaurs and wish that they were alive, but what would happen if those wishes became a reality? In Michael Crichton's thrilling series Jurassic Park, he brings those dinosaurs on a realistic and horrifying level. There were plenty moments in the book that made for great suspense. The more memorable moment of suspense being when Lex and Tim are being stalked by velociraptors. There was also some good character development between all the amazing dinosaurs. When Allan, John, and the others were eating at a dinner table they talked about how they felt about the park which gave insight to how they felt actually seeing the dinosaurs. And lastly, there was some fantastic imagery in the book. The more enjoyable form of imagery demonstrated in the book is when Allan, Ellie, and Ian first see one of the dinosaurs John has created. This book is highly recommended for people who love dinosaurs or take a liking to action book series's.

[Kay Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jurrasic Park is a great dinosaur story. I personally love the baby raptor (I think that's what jumped into Tim's arms) when I imagined the raptor I saw a cute baby raptor.

If you're a dinosaur NUT you should DEFINITELY read this awesome Jurassic tale!

I have no idea when I finished this. But I am angry that

Jurassic Park got blown up in the book! (Not in the movie I hope. Because there's Jurassic park II and III!!)


Book is a must read. I don't know if you'll get chomped into the book that you can't stop reading it or not but you must read this!

x Dinosaur Roars x Welcome to Jurassic Park!

[Mcaries amistad · Rating 3 out of 5]

i learned about different types of dinosaurs. and plus the suspense in some scenes were off the wall. the authors broke down every scene to the smallest detail. it felt like i was in the island of Costa Rica running from dinosaurs.

[Aaron Krell]

This book talks about how dinosaurs are recreated and brought onto an Island. But the important thing about this book is the way they describe the dinosaurs in this story

[Lois · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm about 70 pages from finishing this book, but flat and sometimes stereotypical characters have kept me from being at all engrossed in it despite its having a fantastic basic story concept.

[Ashton · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it because it was the exact thing like in the movie.

[Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

on page 144 it is so epic i know all the dinosaurs so far!!!!!!!!!!

[Shakira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as enjoyable as the 1st, but a good read nonetheless.

[William Jones]

If you like Dinosaurs this is YOUR BOOK!!!!

[Eduardo Ferreira · Rating 2 out of 5]

lembro que li desesperado durante uma semana após o filme. rs... guris.

[Fred Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it