Airframe

Rating:
Summary: Not great writing but a good vacation read
Review: Reminiscent of "Hotel" or "Airport", Crichton packs a lot of information into a very thin storyline. Characterization is superficial. I found myself trying to figure out what actors would play each character when the movie comes out. The technical jargon is enough to be educational but not so much as to get in the way of the plot. Both sides of most issues were presented. It was enough for the reader to realize the airplane industry is very very complex and solutions are not easy. However, given that complexity, the ending was very simplistic. But if what you want is an interesting quick read over a weekend or vacation, this is a good book. Besides, everyone will read it and will now be water cooler airline industry experts. You can't be left out.

Rating:
Summary: Technically Correct...riveting...good reading!
Review: As an airline pilot with a Major US Carrier, I found Airframe to be very good reading. Crichton took his time to research the various areas of aviation to produce a technically correct novel. It was also a personal story for me, since I, like Casey Singleton, graduated from Wayne State University and grew up in Detroit, MI. It was exciting reading with a number of twists and turns. Not Crichton's best writing, but very good, none-the-less

Rating:
Summary: Good read but weakly disappointing
Review: Airframe is a good entertaining read, but I felt like I had already read this book before. I thought this was "Disclosure" all over again. It has a very similar plot. He gives some interesting thoughts on the airplane industry and the press' coverage of media events, though, and this is the best part of the book. The characters and plot are routine.

Rating:
Summary: A look inside the Aerospace Industry
Review: The master of genre has most definitely come up with his next movie script and not a thriller to his normally exceptional standards. While the book provides a deep insight on the Aerospace industry and how it deals and is dealt with by its customers and its regulator/promoter (FAA), the plot is not complex and characters are very shallow. Very predictable, and very unlike Crichton's past works. Airframe revolves around the N-22 built by Norton Aircraft. The parallel between the DC-10 and McDonell Douglas are clear to see, even the new generation aircraft from Norton is the N-XX (MD's DC-XX). The plot comences with an N-22 having a mishap over the Pacific ocean. Faced with an imminent sale to China, Vice President Katherine "Casey" Singleton is responsible for "solving" the "incident" within an unheard of, 7 days. Add to plot the usual corporate power tussles and subterfuge in the upper echelon, and serious union problems. Also add in, a TV news show, whose producer hates everything American and wants to use the N-22 incident to trash American products, and of course Norton along with it. Casey is in an uneviable position. The final outcome is quite expected. The bright point of this novel is its revelations into the conflicts faced within the highly competitive Airline industry. The FAA is not only the Regulator of Civil Aviation, but also its promoter. An aircraft builder, when faced with an accident, cannot blame the Airline when it is indeed the fault of the Airline, since they are the customer. These insights are indeed the best feature of the book and will be a good read for the "techno thriller" buff

Rating:
Summary: AIRFRAME is certainly Crichton's best !
Review: The wait for Crichton's new novel has been worth it !! Airframe is Crichton's best as the Aviation information mixed with the quick paced suspense of media and corporate clashes all combine to make Airframe an exciting and knowledgeable read !! Airframe will undoubtably make for an excelent movie. This book is a definite 10 !! I can't wait for his next novel !! I have an AIRFRAME movie information page at: http://www.powerup.com.au/~stott/airframe.htm and a Michael Crichton page at: http://www.powerup.com.au/~stott/film.html

Rating:
Summary: A great book about a airplane disaster.Thrilling!
Review: An airplane disaster causes many casualties, giving the press a feild day.Misinformation lurks everywhere.A book good enough to become a movie.

Rating:
Summary: Airframe: the media/trash culture vs. airline safety
Review: Michael Crichton, the master of the techno-thriller is back with Airframe. His new book is a critical perspective of todays trash media and its rule in the pop culture. Against the backdrop of an airline accident, we follow the attempts of a female executive of the aircraft manufacturer to solve the mystery of the incident that caused the death of three passengers. A sensational TV news team is also after the story -- albeit from their perspective the truth really is not the goal. The book does not waste anytime in getting the readers attention up to the incident -- it actually occurs on the second page! As with all of Crichtons novels, this one is fast paced, and involves a certain deadline. This time, however, when it comes to the assortment of high tech gadgets his books became famous for, Chrichton is more subdued in his handling of the subject matter. IMHO, the book is too short for its own benefit - I only wish the author restrained himself a little bit and allowed his characters to mature a little before their immersion into the plot. Airframe might not be as powerful, and it might not generate as much controversy and might not be as talked about as as some of the authors other works, yet it tells a good story about a very intriguing topic. Fans of the genre will immediately appreciate it.

Rating:
Summary: Top notch book!
Review: Crichton's best in a while. Impressive and amazing, Crichton covers technology like he was an expert in the field. Authors should sit up and take note: Michael Crichton is the king of novelists. I can't wait for the movie and his next book

Rating:
Summary: I read it in four hours.
Review: This book was too short, but it was so good. I can't wait to see the movie!

Rating:
Summary: Crichton is back!!!!!
Review: Although not in the league with Jurassic Park, Crichton has written. in Airframe an exciting mysery of a different kind. Besides being under the pressure of finding the cause of an in-air disaster, the herione has to do so before the media delivers its on damning version. Even though some of the sub plots were a little obvious, Crichton did an excellent job of holding the attention of his readers. Also in this book, Crichton gave "just the right amount" of technical detail. A good read for yourself, or a sure to be appreciated gift for the mystery/suspense reader on your gift list.