04-13-2009, 10:45 AM
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?
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?
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