Online-Bibliothek

What would happen if bacteria from space were to infect people on Earth and how would you be able to fight a completely alien disease? This scenario is the plot line for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. A satellite was given the job of collecting upper atmosphere bacteria for possible use as biological weapons and one of these satellites crashes and ends up in a small Arizona town. Every citizens, except for a sickly old man, and a baby, dies a horrible death, either dying because all of the citizen's blood has clotted up, or going mad and committing suicide. The government learns about the death of the village, and calls in Project Wildfire. Project Wildfire is a group of elite scientists, hand-picked for their knowledge of clinical microbiology, epidemology, pathology, and electrolyte microbiology. They report to their hidden base under the Nevada desert and work to find a cure for an alien disease, that is unlike any earth sickness, before it can multiply enough to infect the entire world. All of Crichton's books that I've read are good. His books always have a heavy scientific background. Drawing from his Ph.D. from Harvard, his Jurassic Park and The Lost World, the two books that Crichton is best known for, use a lot of information about genetics. The Andromeda Strain uses more of a mixture biology and virology. The Andromeda Strain is a good techno-thriller, and the reader could actually learn something about the two sciences above. I couldn't figure out what most of the diagrams were supposed to mean, but I could understand the parts involving the bacteria and how it worked. I was also impressed by the scientific papers used in the references for the book. I'd give the The Andromeda Strain a 9 out of 10 because, although The Andromeda Strain is an intelligent and entertaining book, it drags in some parts, which takes away from the good parts. Still, I enjoyed reading The Andromeda Strain though I wouldn't recommend it for everybody.

The Andromeda strain is a very suspenseful and imaginative book. Once I started reading, I haven't been able to put it down even when my watch read 2 a.m. and I had to work the next day.

What happens if a space-bound virus enters the Earth's biosphere and it turns out to be a killer? Why are there two persons still living after the first contact - a baby and an old man - whereas the rest of the town is dead? Will the scientists be able to find the link between them and find a cure? As a scientist I have to admit that Crichton has read up on this topic and everything he writes about is credible except maybe for the ending which is regrettably disappointing.

But nevertheless I recommend this book for everyone interested in science fiction or science based thrillers.

Always keep in mind that the book was written in the 1960s so computer and communication technology isn't up to date!

This is the first Crichton book that I ever read. The book is a thrilling account of the introduction of a space-borne bacteria into the earths atmosphere. The bacteria wipes everyone in a small town except a drunk and a crying baby. The book is a life-like account of what the scientists found, how they tried to find what the bacteria is, why these two people survived, and how do they find a cure. I felt the fictional technology was incredible by todays standards, much less in 1969 when this book was originally copywrited.As an Engineer, I found this book absolutely awsome. The way the book was written in general was excellent. They way the story was layed out for the reader made it so that I never wanted to put it down. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes science/science fiction based work.

One of Crichton's greatest strengths is his ability to infuse science 'fiction' with plenty of science 'fact.' It is a refreshing change from sci-fi writers who simply toss around science vocabulary words, or rely on worn-out cliches such as hyperdrive, teleporters, and wormholes. In this classic tale, Crichton uses his background knowledge to conjure an alien microbe that infects the earth. He follows the progress of the scientists who study the Andromeda Strain...their discoveries about its nature...the details of its structure...and it looks as though all the little details will soon tie into a revelation about the Andromeda Strain...a microbe more incredible and bizarre than any microscopic lifeform on earth...and then the book comes abruptly to an end. It would not have been much more disappointing to end the story with, "He woke up with a start, covered with sweat. And he realized it was all a bad dream." This really is a good book, and well worth the time to read it. I was just expecting a more creative, and more fulfilling, conclusion.

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.