Sphere (Michael Crichton)

This was my first Crichton book, as well as my first Sci-Fi book ever, and let me tell you what a ride it was. It was really a great read. The story was believable and it kept me glued to it throughout the whole book. The characters were believable and awesome, and the action didn't stop. I couldn't say anything bad about it. If your a Crichton or Sci-Fi fan it's a MUST read. This will definately not be my last book.

Sphere is a prime example of book being better than movie. Now, I must admit that when I was younger, I was they type to go see movies that interested me, and afterward, investigate their original source material, so I saw Sphere first. And I loved it. I loved it so much that I went out and bought the book, which was the "movie edition cover," which these days I find annoying, but am willing to live with as long as the text is untouched. I read the book. And I loved it. But in my love for the book, I started to dislike the film. I though, "Gee, Mr. Levinson, couldn't you have been a little more faithful to the book? It would have made an even better film!" I'm not saying that the film itself was bad, as after all, I said earlier that I loved it. I'm just saying that if your movie is nowhere near as good (even if it is good) as the book, then you're doing it wrong. The book is about an alien craft found deep in the ocean (it's discovered because its tail fin severed a trans-... Read more

"Sphere" is a great sci-fi story, and one of Crighton's best. I find Crighton to be pretty hit-and-miss, but I consider this my favorite of his books, and one I've read more than once. There are some great time paradoxes and other sci-fi mind games to have fun with, and some extreme hair-stand-up-on-the-back-of-your-neck moments as well! FUN! Crighton's writing is very cinematic; you can see the movie in your head as you're reading the book. This is why the movie version was so disappointing. Dustin Hoffman was a pretty good casting, but Sharon Stone and Samuel Jackson were just WRONG. I would have picked Laura Dern and Spike Lee. But enough about the movie. The good thing here is that if you've seen the movie, then the book will be very fresh... as the movie was almost NOTHING like the book. Certainly Crighton's best and an excellent stay up all night reading kind of book.

As I wrote my Listmania best sci-fi list, I looked through my collection and found Sphere, and immediately wanted to review it. I have to say that while Michael Crichton has written some great (and not so great) novels, this one is my favorite. Admittedly I am slightly biased (with good reason, I think) because it has a special place in my thoughts above all of the other fiction I have read. This is the novel that really opened my eyes to reading. It was one of the first "grown up novels" that I ever read back in 7th grade, and ever since Sphere I have read insatiably. For me, no book had ever combined so many exciting scientific ideas with such burgeoning action, suspense, and artistry. As I read it now I still relive those feelings and have yet to find a novel that can top it. Crichton isn't known for his flowing prose or incredible dialogue, but what he does well (maybe the best) is he combines scientific themes with a very readable and engaging plot, and this creates incredibly ... Read more

Unfortunately, this is one of the few times where the movie outshined the book. I love Crichton's novels, but we all know the books are better than the movies. This movie outdid the book though. If I were you, I would spend the couple dollars and buy this one on video. I hope I saved you money! Enjoy the video!