Prey

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Summary: Prey
Review: In the novel, Prey, by Michael Crichton, the author uses rising action to effectively tell the story of the possible negative effects on society of advancing technology too far. In this case, the technology involves a combination of nano-science, information science, and biology. The results are nano-particles that take on the characteristics of a rapidly evolving, intelligent biological species. Jack Forman, an out-of-work Silicon Valley engineer, becomes increasingly suspicious about his wife's behavior and her secretive work with these nano-particles. As he seeks to understand and then to destroy the technology, he faces the danger of being exposed to the swarms of particles. The risk and consequences of exposure increase as the swarms of nano-particles evolve and become more powerful. The frustration of not knowing the whole truth about this technology and the need to find out amplifies the tension and holds the reader in suspense, waiting for Jack's exposure that could very well be deadly, or life altering. The novel, similar to an action movie, starts with small, abrupt encounters with these nano-particles and then builds up to the eventual head on, highly dangerous confrontation between the man and the manmade technological nightmare.
To Crichton, portraying the protagonist's thoughts is as important as describing his actions. During every tense moment, and sometimes during the less stressful ones, Crichton portrays the rush of thoughts that surge through Forman's head. Not only does he keep up the protagonist's train of thought, but also he tells what thoughts Jack Forman reads from the other character's actions and appearances. Crichton has certainly done his research, and the many physics related quips and statistics really add to the intelligence of the story. This book is enjoyable because Crichton spends a fair amount of the time discussing physics and the ideas of future computer technology. The storyline seems character driven. Crichton has assigned unique personalities to every character including the nano-particles. Perhaps Crichton even incorporated himself in one of the characters, so that he might live in his own created world. The unique characters and the physics and other science accompaniments incorporated in the story make this an entertaining and educational read.
Overall, Crichton's Prey is a brilliant novel. Because of his use of rising action to increase tension and excitement throughout the story, he is able to keep readers turning pages to find out what happens next. The unique personalities of the characters, the incorporation of science details, and the foresight into the negative consequences of not managing scientific advances appropriately bring much insight into what could be possible in the future of technology. Prey deserves at least four and one half stars, for the excellent storyline, as well as for making the reader think about the potential risks of technology out of control.

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Summary: Gripping the edge of my seat!
Review: This was a great read. The storyline is creative and gripping.
It reads like a movie, which also makes a fun read. It is action packed and mysterious right to the last page. I don't usually read Micheal Crichton's books. This was a nice change of pace for me. I picked up this book and started reading before I had the slightest clue what it was about. I am so glad I did. I recommend that others do the same, don't read an all-too-revealing review. This book will keep you guessing!
I just can't say anymore without spoiling it.
Thanks for reading my review!

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Summary: This is the reason i read Crichton!
Review: Michael Crichton's new novel reminds me somewhat of his earlier work Jurassic Park . This is a compliment. Jurassic Park is perhaps Crichton's best novel. In many ways, Prey is quite similar. Substitute dinosaurs for nanomachines, and you've got a storyline that is very close to that of Jurassic Park . That's okay, Jurassic Park was a very strong and interesting book.

Crichton is very good at presenting complex theoretical science in a way that is both understandable (in a very rough form) as well as believable. While we may not be close to being able to achieve the science in Crichton's novels, he makes us believe that perhaps it is possible, at least for the length of a novel. In that, he is a very successful writer.

The basic story is that nano-machines are possible and after years of the theory being discussed, one company has actually created them. As each individual nano-machine is smaller than dust, they are designed to travel through veins and transmit images of what they see. Jack is the narrator, he is unemployed having been fired from his software job for whistle-blowing (a co-worker was selling company secrets, but the boss was in on it). Jack's wife works for the company making the nano-machines. He suspects that she is cheating on him. A swarm of nano-machines has gotten free from the laboratory and is potentially a danger. Strange things are beginning to happen at Jack's house.

A very interesting and well told story. It is fast paced and I didn't want to put the book down. Recommended.

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Summary: Starts better than it finishes
Review: When I first started reading this, I thought it was going to be very good. The set-up was very interesting, getting to know the protagonist, and his situation and background. There was enough science to make it seem believable, but not so much to make it slow down the story.

However, when the story got going, I thought it fell apart somewhat. There were many times when the characters did things that just didn't seem to make much sense based on the situation. And the main conflict just didn't keep me as interested as I had been leading up to it.

Also, I'm not a big fan of illogical coincidences that play a crucial role in the plot. Like Jack having written the code that his wife's company was using, it was a little too convenient. I think the story would have worked much better if that had been presented differently.

Finally, the end seemed to drag on quite a bit. I felt like I knew pretty much what would happen, but it took too long getting there.

Overall, I thought the premise was very interesting and the characters were good, but the ending seemed a little predictable and it was too slow. I enjoyed reading it, but the beginning made me expect more from the end than I got.

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Summary: not crichton-like
Review: I read nearly all of michael's novels. This is my least favourite. The topic nanotechnology is exciting and Michael, as usual, does do his homework on it but the story and the characters he built around it somehow do not fit in it. An out of work team leader who does household duties, a handful of programmers becoming biologists and a working mom/full time scientist all handling the 21st century nanotechnology: it just does not match. With this topic at hand, the particles able to resemble a human form, I was more thinking of the liquid robot from the Terminator 2 and with that given you can create a much more juicy story.

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Summary: What Can I Say, Crichton Has Done It Again
Review: This book was simply amazing. As always, Crichton has combined his amazing imagination with mind-blowing technology and created another great thriller. This book ranks up there with his masterpiece "Jurrasic Park". Any fan of his work, or readers looking for a in depth, great novel should read "Prey". It builds on suspense and never dissapoints. I loved every page of it.

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Summary: Great Suspense!
Review: For two days, I could barely put this book down. This time Crichton's plot revolves around nano computers and an unemployed father of three, Jack, who believes his wife is having an affair. Jack's real problems begin the instant his infant daughter wakes up screaming in the night from a mysterious rash but in short order he's called upon to save the world from uncontrollable swarms of deadly nano computers. (Luckily Jack's an unemployed computer code writer, and it's his code on predator and prey behavior that the tiny computers are running on.)

Prey reminds me both of The Andromeda Strain and Jurassic Park, with a great balance of story and science. The concepts in Prey are quite realistic and terrifying and the suspense in the last half of the book is incredible. (Plus, Michael Crichton was years ahead of his time with the misuse of cloning theme used in Jurassic Park, so I think that adds an element of credibility to his ideas.)

I admit that there are a couple of too convenient contrivances, and the ultimate outcome is somewhat sudden and movie-ish (Without a doubt there will be a movie version) but Prey remains a great story. I enjoyed it immensely and can't wait for Crichton's next!

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Summary: Good, But Not Great Crichton Novel
Review: This novel was not up to normal Crichton standards. The last 150 pages were exciting and made it hard to put down, but the first 150 pages were boring and almost caused me to quit reading it. I was expecting a story like Andromeda Strain, Jurassic Park, Congo, or Timeline that got you into the action fast as well as taught you about the science and technology Crichton is covering in the story.
He did cover how the emerging nanotechnology of molecular robots combined with biotechnology and computer technology could get out of control on its own. These molecular robots swarmed together and developed emergent behavior (learning new responses to new stimuli) based on a predator model which becomes life-threatening to those who created them.
The book is worth reading, but not one that enthralls the reader from beginning to end.

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Summary: Crichton can certainly frighten
Review: This is Michael Crichton style science fiction adventure at its best. I picked this book up Saturday morning and did not put it down until I finished reading it that evening. He combines well-researched ideas from nanotechnolgy, biotechnology, and computer technology with his vivid imagination and novelist license to create this fast paced story. Predator behavior emerges as swarms of agents evolve to form a network optimized to thrive and prey on their creators. The science behind this story is so well researched the book contains a three page long bibliography of scientific papers on artificial life, evolutionary design, self-organization in biological systems, competition and predation, and swarm intelligence.

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Summary: It was difficult to understand
Review: The book went into a lot of detailled descriptions about nanotechnology that a lot of people wouldnt understand which makes the book boring