Airframe

Rating:
Summary: A Crichton, but not at his best...
Review: Admittedly, I was dismayed at the storyline for Airframe. Having read and been hooked on other Crichtons such as The Lost World, Jurassic Park, and Timeline, I found Airframe to be one of his lesser works of fiction.

As usual, Crichton backs up his story with scientific gobbledegook. If he doesn't thoroughly research his topic before writing it, he does an excellent job of making things up from what he already knows. Airframe is no different; it contains a plethora of technical terms, most likely in regular use within the aerospace industry.

I found the book frustrating, in much the way as one finds with an Agatha Christie novel: the plot is shrouded in mystery because one simple fact is concealed until the final stages of the book. There were also doubtful segments in the book, things that would never occur in real life. For example, the "common workers," the engineers in Norton aircraft factory, seem to want to murder a senior member of staff (Casey Singleton, the hero of the story). In fact, she knows about their dramatic tendencies even before they are focused on her. Like anyone would stay in a job like that!

Despite these shortfalls, the book is entertaining, and had me gripped for some long nights, albeit to find out what the final mystery was (don't worry - I won't spoil it). And, as usual, the scientific side is well explained to the average-intelligence human being!

But in the words of Simon Callow, "a distinctly average performance" by a superb author. Better luck next time, Mike.

Rating:
Summary: Not a Crichton-class novel
Review: I found this book disappointing, and not even close to as captivating as his other books.

If you're an airplane buff, you'll like this book. If you are a Crichton fan, maybe not.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not great...
Review: Good book, but the reason for the 3 instead of 5 is the anticlimax at the end of the book after such an intriguing start and middle section. If this is what it was all abt then I have to say I wasted time reading it. But it gives some idea abt commercial aviation industry. Not bad. I have to say I liked the experience but not the ending.

Rating:
Summary: Airframe Rocks! Mad details-- it's the bomb!
Review: Crichton does it again! This time we're in the air plane manufacturing business and Crichton makes it live. As an added bonus, we go behind the scenes on one of the most widely accepted venues of 90s American life, news show television. This book has something for everyone: If you watch TV for news, read the papers or listen to the radio... if you fly on a regular basis, fly once in a while, or if you are afraid to fly, you have to read this book!

As a frequent air traveler, he engaged my interest with the very first pages. We witness an event filled morning aboard the passenger cabin of a foreign carrier from the perspective of an American couple bound from Hong Kong to Denver with their baby girl. As I read, my excitment and curiosity grew.

Crichton takes a female point of view for the duration of the book-- and like last summer's movie, the Net, the heroine of AIRFRAME is a woman. Through all the intrigue and mystery surrounding her investigation of an "air incident" we come to admire and respect Casey Singleton for her efforts to find the truth despite high personal risk.

AIRFRAME presents a credible tale filled with encounters that reflect reality in the media and the air transportation business. When I bought it, I thought it might sway my feeling of security on planes, knowing statistics show that flying is much safer than driving a car. On the contrary, the book reinforced my confidence in the air plane industry and the system of air safety in this country. Crichton's surprise ending leaves you with an empathy and sympathy for fellow travelers on life's journey, particulary parents. The understated truth demonstrated by Casey's investigation shows us that seemingly inconsequential everyday decisions can have an enormous impact on others.

Totally readable, totally exciting, totally engrossing Crichton at his best. Don't wait for the movie--buy AIRFRAME, read it, enjoy the ride and tell a friend!

Rating:
Summary: You'll never want to put this book down.
Review: This book is Michael Crichton at his best.

The entire book is so suspenseful and gripping that you won't want to put it down until you're finished... I read it in three days because I couldn't put it down.

Like his other books, it's backed up with scientific information on the subject, but unlike some of his other books, he keeps it to a comfortable level to keep it interesting without disrupting the plot.

This is a must-read, but set aside some time to read it as there are few good stopping points. The book is that good!

Rating:
Summary: the best book i have read for some time
Review: this was my first michael crichton book so i approached it with sceptisism. i was not dissappointed however as this had me gripped from start to finish.

forced to write this review after reading the odd one or two give it 1 star out of 5. this is grossly unfair and deserves far far better. best book i have read in ages.

i have since read "prey" by crichton and intend to purchase more of his books as they are geat reads.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing good here
Review: Unlike many of Crichton's other works, this lacks both excitement and information on science and technology. The main character, Casey Singleton, is in a race against time to find out what caused a mid-flight incident on a plane that resulted in 3 dead and 56 wounded. But the danger and the suspense doesn't feel real and the only reason to read the rest of the book is to find out what really happened. Everything that leads up to the conclusion seems unecessary and not at all interesting. I don't recommend this title to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Not like Crichton's other books; but is soo good...
Review: When reading this book, you'll say "gee, you know, it has Crichton's very descriptivness, and his good character choices; but, where's the science?". Yeah yeah, if you've read Timeline, then you read Airframe, you'll swear they weren't written by the same guy. Airframe is a great page-turner, and isn't like a super action-packed and science book like Timeline. This book deals with betrayal, investigations, suspense, and drama. It almost seems like it was written to be a movie with all the great aspects of the book. But, this book was one of my favorites. I suggest you read this book...and if you've read it, well read it again!

Rating:
Summary: Underrated by Most--One of My Favorites by Crichton
Review: I'm not real sure why this book has never been made into a movie. It is Crichton at his best-- detailed, well plotted, and well written-- and while I know it was a best seller when it came out, it just never seemed to garner the attention his more sci fi oriented books have.

A near disaster in the air leaves three people dead and nearly three dozen injured. Casey Singleton is sent by her hard-driving boss to uncover the mysterious circumstances that led to the disaster before more people die. But, as you might expect, someone doesn't want her to find the answers she is looking for and soon she is risking her life to unravel the mystery.

While Crichton has featured strong women in other books, Casey Singleton is, I believe, the first to actually be the lead character in the book. And she is truly a great character! More than just solving the mystery rides in her shoulders, the fate of the company she works for may depend on whether she can solve the mystery before someone sees to it that she is no longer around to try to sort things out.

Crichton probably does a better job of explaining the inner working of airliner manufacturing and the airline industry itself than most textbooks. Well there are echoes of "Disclosure" here, Crichton ably demonstrates that the most entertaining intrigue is corporate intrigue. A truly superior novel.

Rating:
Summary: You'll at least be more attentive next time you fly!
Review: A trans-Pacific flight from Hong Kong encounters severe turbulence leaving several passengers dead and many more injured. Casey Singleton, who is in charge of Quality Control for the airplane manufacturer, is assigned to head the internal investigation into what went wrong. But it soon becomes apparent that someone doesn't want her to figure out what happened. Add to it a labor dispute, and not only is the future of the company in jeopardy, but Casey's life as well.

"Airframe" offers an amazing and interesting insight into several industries. I learned some very interesting things about how the airplanes are made and the tests and regulations required. While reading it I even felt a bit uneasy about flying, and found that I paid a lot more attention to the operations of the jet the next time I flew. But not only was the book informative (for a work of fiction, anyway), but it was also a lot of fun to read. Maybe not my favorite Crichton book, but I really enjoyed it.