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Summary: Sci-fi at its best!
Review: Terriffic book by Michael Crichton about an investigation of a new deadly virius. Very interesting and suspensful. I definately enjoyed it! Also, I recommend reading this book before you see the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: this was a pretty good book
Review: The Andromeda Strain is kind of wierd. Sometimes it seemed like it just dragged on and on. The old guy was funny when he was telling Mark Hall that he could do what he wanted because he's old. The ending was very dissapointing. Overall it was worth reading but not the best book you can get.
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Summary: Interesting book playing off an issue of the time
Review: This book was written around 1969, when astronauts were first landing on the moon. There was a serious concern about the possibility, however slight, that there were micro-organisms on the moon that might return to Earth and cause an epidemic. This concern led to the quarantine of returning astronauts (and the rocks they collected) from the first few missions that landed. This ended when the fears proved unfounded. (There is an interesting side note. The second moon landing recovered several pieces of an unmanned probe that had landed several years earlier. It was found that bacteria in the probe had survived the launch, the landing on the moon, and several years on the airless surface of the moon with temperature swings of hundreds of degrees.)This book plays off of this idea of "bad stuff from space causes problems on Earth." There are more than 300 other reviews, so I'll mostly leave the plot alone here. What I liked about it was the sense it gave of scientific investigation of an important topic on a short time scale. Trying to "beat the clock," the scientists have to come up with and discard theories for how the unfamiliar organism works with unaccustomed speed, which (as you might imagine) stresses them out. In parallel with other Crichton books, the action takes place over about a week, with simple errors and accidents costing valuable time. The book is newly relevant with the possibility of "designer" biological agents from labs in rouge nations (or from terrorists) playing the role of the alien infectious agent in the book.
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Summary: An unknown deadly organism from space
Review: A government project called project Scoop is sending up satellites into orbit to collect dust and any organisms. An unknown deadly organism is picked up by one of the satellities, then the satellite crashes to earth. The government must find a cure before the organism multiplies and kills everyone. The Andromeda Strain is similar to other science fiction works by Michael Crichton. The story is written with a lot of detail and scientific vocabulary. What I like best about this book was its realistic plot. The problem has been previously proposed and I'm sure discussed by many in the scientific world. Also Crichton used fantastic imagery and great descritption of the setting and background of main characters. "Merrick was a rebellious, unorthodox scientist whose reputation for clear thinking was not enhanced by his recent divorce or the presence of the handsome he brought with him to the symposium". The only downfall I could find was in some parts the intense scientific vocabulary when discussing the organism and the depth that he goes in, but for some this might make the book that much better.
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Summary: A good book for all to enjoy!
Review: I just recently finished one of the best books I've ever read. Andromeda Strain was exciting and very action packed through out. One of the main reasons I really liked it was because it started out with a very fast paced and excitng plot. It didn't get caught up in describing the sunset and scenery etc., it just cut to the chase. This book is about five scientists who are trying to get to bottom of a possible biological plague. The strain entered the atmosphere on an unmanned satallite, and that's all they know about it! This book is written very well, and in a style I really enjoy. Michael Crichton writes from the perspective that the whole story is true, and it really happened. He uncovers the top secret dealings of the government and reveals them to the public. All in all this is a great book for any one remotely interested in science fiction, or even if you're not!
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Summary: AN INTRESTING AND RIVETING NOVEL BY THE KING OF THRILL
Review: A very intresting story about a killer virus that lands on Earth in a contaminated satellite called Scoop. The virus clotts up your blood or drives you to the brink of total insanity and causes you to calmly kill yourself in sometimes a very odd fashion. If Crichton keeps this sort of novels coming out for a while longer he will be known as the king of the technothriller, or the master of suspense. If you haven't read any of his books, and you're looking for a intresting and suspenseful author who delivers a powerhouse of a novel every time he writes, read Crichton, and read The Andromeda Strain The reason I enjoyed this novel so much is that he doesn't write it from the viewpoint of someone who is running from the virus, but someone who is trying to stop it. If you are planning to go to the library anytime soon, check this out and start reading it ASAP.
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Summary: Ok, but...
Review: a problem is the absence of common sense. There is a happy ending because the virus or whatever it was, mutated into something benign. But as my father pointed out a long time ago, so what if one of many many individuals of a certain species of virus mutates into something nicer? It does nothing to lessen the virulence of the vast majority of that species. If the original virulent strain burned itself out by killing all its hosts and then was successfully quarantined, that would make a sensible almost happy ending.
If you want good "hard" science fiction with a human element, try early Heinlein instead.(pre 1963)
Rating: 
Summary: Good build up but disappointing ending
Review: I loved the way the book starts off and right away you are in the thick of the plot. I espically like the way Mr. Crichton sticks to the main story but as I start see how few pages are left to read, I begin to wonder how he wraps up the story in so short a time. Now I am on the last chapter and it seems that when Mr. Crichton was writing the novel, he just decided he had had enough and just banged out a few pages to abruptly end it.
The abrupt and shallow ending spoilt what could otherwise have been a classic. Maybe someday Mr. Crichton could go back, delete the existing last chapter and actually finish the book.
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Summary: The Andromeda Strain
Review: Crichton's 'The Andromeda Strain' was a pretty good read. I didn't have much trouble getting to reading many pages at a time. Sometimes I did have to use my mind some to figure out the scientific theories and such, but once I got past all that intellect, the story was pleasing. It is a sci-fi, mystery book in that the entire novel was based on figuring out what wiped out an entire city's population, and how to stop that thing from killing more cities' populations.
The last 50 or so pages I did not find any trouble in reading, putting it down was where I found the trouble. So many things started happening at once right at the very end that I was totally spellbound. I didn't, however, like the way Crichton ended the novel. It was a little too basic. Everything leading up to it could have gone for so much more. Crichton seemed to be doing so well, and then just ran out of time and needed to end it quickly and chose the way he did. But, aside from the quick, base ending, I really enjoyed and would recommend 'The Andromeda Strain' as an easy read.
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Summary: The Andromeda Strain
Review: The Andromeda Strain is not written on the same level as Michael Crichton's best books, like Jurassic Park and Prey, The Andromeda Strain is only mediocre. The novel is about a government organization that sends satellites into space to collect space pathogens. When one of the satellites crashes and wipes out an entire town the Wildfire team is called upon. The novel opens up in a way that attracts the attention of the reader, and makes the reader want to read more and more. Throughout the novel Michael Crichton keeps the reader interested with a great plot and building up the climax. Though Michael Crichton does not follow the climax with
a ending that finishes off a great book. Without a well written ending this novel, The Andromeda Strain, is only mediocre. This is not one of Michael Crichton's best novels.
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