Next by Michael Crichton

[El Dingo]

I used to hate Michael Crichton's writing style. Then I realized he had no writing style. Every book is just a movie script. Actors are told what to do, what to say and how to react. There is no nuance, subtlety, wordsmithing or narrative.

Releasing Michael from the obligations of a real writer permits me to enjoy the books as a collection of ideas and scenarios waiting to be turned into a film by a talented director or (as 'Congo' demonstrated) a talentless one.

'Next' is one of these scripts.

A collection of bland characters presenting the wonder and danger of genetic manipulation. Who owns genetic code? The company that develops the procedure that cures cancer? The individual who's cancer-resistant DNA provided the key? And once we've cured cancer, what's to stop us from further tinkering? Where does one draw the line at playing god? And if you play god, do you earn one-ups and experience points?

The animal gene-splicing was a bit over the top. What is Crichton's obsession with super-intelligent apes anyway?

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Your process for accepting/enjoying Crichton is the same one that I have for accepting/enjoying Taco Bell: Don't think of it as Mexican food, because it clearly isn't. It is, however, really very cheap food, and that is just fine.

Crichton and Super-Smart Apes: He wanted to be Chuck Heston in Planet of the Apes since he was just a lad. That's my theory, and since he is dead, dead, dead, and can't contradict me, it is as good as any theory out there.

[cranefly]

I had this idea, based on what ED and ppfy said, but it took me a month to get up the courage to try it.

Tonight I went on a Taco Bell run. It was my turn, as LC had done the honors the last 40 times.
So at the drive-up speaker I give the order. A number 4 with a diet pepsi, and a number 6 with a diet
pepsi. A girl's voice repeats my order and asks, "Is that all?"
Taking a deep breath, I say, "Oh, and I'd like a side order of Michael Crichton."
After a pause she says, "That will be zero dollars and zero cents."

Well, that doesn't surprise me much because these days my hearing is crap and obviously I'm indulging in wishful hearing. But when I get up to the window, the outside meter reads "$0.00"
I take the food and put the pepsis in the cupholders and thank the girl and am about to drive away when she reaches out her hand and says with all the surliness in her soul, "Sir, that will be zero dollars and zero cents!"
Well, I'm stymied and shaken and confused and what not, and I'm fishing around for who knows what, and finally I find a penny and give it to her.
After slapping the cash register open and closed, she gives me a penny back (a different one), thanks me, and I drive off.

LC refuses to believe me. And she won't try it herself. Which is why I'm telling Doom. Because I know you will.

--cranefly

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

What color is the silent helicopter hovering over your house...?

[Drunk Monk]

Taco Bell does make fine nachos...

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Point for DM. I acknowledge.

[Drunk Monk]

on that note, i think i'll go grab a #5 (w/no meat) and a cheesey bean & rice for lunch today.

[Drunk Monk]

taco bell makes me gassy.

:butthead: