Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining... Again.
Review: Another Crichton novel, and like all the others I read it cover to cover in one sitting. Unfortunately, the similarities don't stop there. The plot is a 21st century update of the Andromeda Strain, with elements of Jurassic Park thrown in for good measure (even the 'iterations' preceding each part). Parts of the book come off as techno-preachy as Chrichton warns us once again of the (legitimate) risks that we meddlesome humans are stirring up. But complaints aside, this is still a great novel by any standards. Just knock off a star because it's not his best.
Rating:
Summary: A great novel, ruined by its ending
Review: This is one of those books that can receive the cliched comment, "Once you pick this book up, you won't want to put it down." While this is true for most of the book, the ending becomes quite far-fetched (even for a Crichton sci-fi) and is ultimately predictable. It follows his tried-and-true formula to a fault.What I found quite pleasant was that this novel was written in the first person, giving it an interesting twist. As usual, the characters seems real, and the story comes to life. All-in-all, this is a good book, but should have had some more work done to it before its release.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling read
Review: A thought provoking novel that creates a very believable possible scenario as to what man's capabilities could create. We have plenty of current and historical examples of what can happen when mankind gets ahead of itself. I thought the characters were well done in this novel, in that their reactions to the extraordinary circumstances were quite realistic. If you enjoyed this novel check out the novels SILICON SECRETS by Catherine Burr and CLONED LOVE by Thorne Peters.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Read
Review: As much as I enjoyed it, this novel is not perfect. I feel that there are a few loose ends not explained at the end of the novel, although there is an attempt to wrap things up. In a good move Crichton provides a glimpse into what is to come with a few paragraphs at the start of the novel, but when you get to the actual text where the words should have been taken from, they don't match. These things aren't so bothersome to shun the book, the plot is worth the few discrepancies. It's also easy to imagine a sequel, if not in book form, but after it's made into a movie, as this will no doubt be done (the film rights were purchased right off). I'm not sure why that bothers me, but I guess I feel a little manipulated, but hopefully I'm wrong and that this was unintentional. I also think the title is misleading or at least unimaginative. All in all this is an Okay good read. I liked it. Other books I liked are Jeremy Leven's Satan:His Psychotherapy and Cure and Paul Omeziri's Descent into Illusions.
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointing experience
Review: In no time at all you will be "preying" for relief. One-third whine about the travails of a stay at home father, one-third info chunks gleaned by Dr. Crichton's research team and one-third loosely structured story, the novel is filled with logical incongruities and haphazardly conceived story development. Having read many of the authors earlier works which provided enough of a scientific framework to create a believable possibility, Prey indifferently attempts to fabricate a storyline with apparently little interest in whether or not the "facts" presented as the building blocks of the novel fit together in any cohesive or particularly interesting manner. It will probably make a visually interesting movie. Don't waste your money on the book.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book...
Review: Michael Crichton has always been one of my favorite authors...hes also one of the most skilled writers i know...he has a medical doctorate from Harvard med., hes obviously a very accomplished writer and playwright, and he is a 6'5, 60 year old man! how amazing! but this book will not fail to keep you reading day in and day out...i finished it in a day and im only 15! He does make all the technical jargon very easy to understand with the surrounding text...its a great investment to buy this book...do it ! you wont regret it! (If you want to know more about the book just read the other reviews around here...or read a couple of the pages above!) Buy this book and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Prey - a realistic view into our possible future...
Review: The premise of this book is both fantastically interesting, yet phenomenally disturbing! The read was fast-paced & the technological aspects were easy to follow...I could not put this book down. Crichton's mixture of cutting edge nanotechnology as it relates to practical uses is astounding. The mishap/extinction issue of humans is real & is currently being discussed by our government! EVERYONE with a shred of interest in the future of technology and of the human race should read this book! I also recommend reading the Bill Joy essay from WIRED magazine of April 2000, included in Crichton's bibliography.
Rating: 
Summary: [Bad] bestselling book will make [bad] blockbuster movie
Review: Crappy bestselling book will make crappy blockbuster movie Crichton makes a clean break from at least one of his familiar devices. Usually, Step One of a Crichton book is to ASSEMBLE A TEAM. Step Two is EXPLAIN WHY PROTAGONIST IS PART OF SAID TEAM. In this book, the team has *already* been assembled at a remote location! Straight to Step Two! Our hero needs to save the team, or fix the situation out there, or report back on what's gone wrong, or something like that. I forget. Just think Andromeda Strain, Jurassic Park, Lost World, Congo, etc., and you've got the idea. This is a book about nanotech researchers who've never heard of, read, or contemplated the potential for nanotech disasters: "A flying, self-replicating, evolving swarm? Let's set it loose and see what happens!" These characters are operating in a vacuum; an easy narrative device that will no doubt serve Crichton well, as readers unfamiliar with nanotech themes will imagine he is raising these concerns for the first time. The vacuum doesn't stop there. Crichton spends maybe a page or two describing some of the potential medical & military benefits of nanotech, without giving any sense of the enormous wealth, nor of the huge social changes such technology would foster. The researchers/businessmen in Prey manage to make molecular assemblers, but are *still* worried about surviving the next round of funding? Sorry, but whoever manages to make assemblers will abandon whatever project they're working on and start making diamonds, extracting gold from seawater, or building a space elevator - and not lose any sleep worrying about the next investor meeting. If there's any doubt that this book was written with a lucrative, easy-to-digest Hollywood movie in mind, consider the meat of the central crisis. What's the protagonist's first indication that something unusual is happening? His wife is looking - especially fit. Crichton takes the most powerful, exotic technology the world's ever seen and, literally, anthropomorphizes it. No nano-mecha-fungus growing over the surface of the earth, no "ice9" solidifying the oceans. No, nothing that would stretch the imagination too far. Instead, imagine Sharon Stone's cold, dead eyes staring icily into the camera. Spooky! (Just like in Sphere!). As another reviewer correctly pointed out, everything in this book is stolen from John Carpenter's 1982 movie "The Thing" - so don't be surprised if "Prey: The Movie" ends with someone saving the world with a slow-motion jump-shot to throw a grenade in some creature's maw. Crichton will add his own touch, to be sure; I bet they'll work a "fast-acting neuro-toxin" into the mix.
Rating:
Summary: An Awesomely Bad Movie in the Making
Review: A decent opening and some good basic science are extrapolated into the most ludicrous B movie garbage that would insult the intelligence of an 'Independance Day' fan. Lack of attention to basic plotting too, for example the hero is forty years old and attended university in the late 70's yet the book is set in 2009, go figure. Crichtons unique style makes it readable, but can't stop it insulting the intelligence, no doubt the basic issues need to be raised though.
Rating:
Summary: New concept but misses the mark
Review: This book has the trademark twists and turns you expect from Crichton but I was not impressed. He could have done better.
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