- Paperback: 512 pages
- Publisher: Pan Books; New edition edition (Feb 20 1998)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0330370359
- ISBN-13: 978-0330370356
- Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 11.2 x 3.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 259 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (655 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #431,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton is possibly the best science teacher for the masses since H.G. Wells, and Sphere, his thriller about a mysterious spherical spaceship at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, is classic Crichton. A group of not-very-complex characters (portrayed in the film by Sharon Stone, Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Queen Latifah) assemble to solve a cleverly designed roller coaster of a mystery while attempting (with mixed success) to avoid sudden death and expounding (much more successfully) on the latest, coolest scientific ideas, including the existence of black holes. Somehow, Crichton manages to convey the complicated stuff in utterly simplistic prose, making him, as his old pal Steven Spielberg puts it, "the high priest of high concept." Yet there is more to Crichton than science and big-ticket show biz. He is also, as any reader of his startling memoir Travels knows, a bit of a mystic--he is entirely open to notions spouted by spoon-bending psychics that most science writers would scorn. Sphere is not only a gratifying sci-fi suspense tale; it also reflects Crichton's keen interest in the unexplained powers of the human mind. When something passes through a black hole in Crichton's fiction, a lesson is learned. The book also contains another profound lesson: when you're staring down a giant squid with an eyeball the size of a dinner plate, don't blink first.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
YA As in Crichton's Andromeda Strain (Knopf, 1969), the focus of this science adventure tale is humankind's encounter with an alien life form. Within a space ship lying on the sea bottom is a mysterious sphere that promises each of the main characters some personal reward: military might, professional prestige, power, understanding. Trapped underwater with the sphere, the humans confront eerie and increasingly dangerous threats after communication with the alien object has been achieved. The story is exciting and loaded with scientific and psychological speculations that add interest at no cost to the action, including an intriguing sequence in which human and computer attempt to decode the alien communication. As the story races to an end, suspicions of evil-doing fall as many ways as in a detective novel. Young adults should find this book both accessible and satisfying. Mike Parson, Houston Public Library
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crichton's Best,
By
This review is from: Sphere (Audio Cassette)
As I wrote my Listmania best sci-fi list, I looked through my collection and found Sphere, and immediately wanted to review it. I have to say that while Michael Crichton has written some great (and not so great) novels, this one is my favorite. Admittedly I am slightly biased (with good reason, I think) because it has a special place in my thoughts above all of the other fiction I have read. This is the novel that really opened my eyes to reading. It was one of the first "grown up novels" that I ever read back in 7th grade, and ever since Sphere I have read insatiably. For me, no book had ever combined so many exciting scientific ideas with such burgeoning action, suspense, and artistry. As I read it now I still relive those feelings and have yet to find a novel that can top it.Crichton isn't known for his flowing prose or incredible dialogue, but what he does well (maybe the best) is he combines scientific themes with a very readable and engaging plot, and this creates incredibly appealing and imaginative novels. If Crichton is the best at this type of novel, Sphere is Crichton's best at doing what he does best! The science makes it compelling, and the story line is absolutely engulfing. What sets Sphere a part from other novels though is its excellent plot twists. Until the end, questions such as "what is the alien?", "how will the characters deal with it and each other?" leave the reader frantically flipping through the pages. These will get answered by an outstanding plot twist which never disappoints. In contrast to many novels that contain plot twists but ultimately fail to satisfyingly wrap up the story, Sphere delivers. I would impel anyone who wants to read any science fiction, or wants to read some Crichton: start with Sphere, you won't be disappointed!
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of Crichton's best,
By Babyblue Kelly (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Sphere (Mass Market Paperback)
I really enjoyed reading "Sphere" not only is it an interesting book but I love how Crichton manages to take scientific subjects (cloning in Jurassic Park, Disease epidemics in The Adromeda Strain) and make them easy to understand and become engrossed with.In this book a group of scientists are taken deep into the ocean to look at what they feel is going to be an airplane crash. Instead they are forced to deal with a long list of things, the possibility of an alien encounter, time travel, black holes, and a mysterious sphere that is clearly not from around here and which possesses a strange power. The book is suspenseful, interesting and I loved the different theories that are going around when the scientists are all trying to figure out and explain things. But still despite all that it is still easy to understand and to become engrossed with. I really enjoyed this one.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very interesting story.,
By Edgar (Québec, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Sphere (Mass Market Paperback)
This sci-fi story has a very interesting idea, with cool technology (that's still relatively advanced for nowadays' standards), and very interesting characters who have interesting interactions. There are also good action seuquences. Recommended strongly if you like Crichton and sci-fi.
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