good idea - bad carrying out (Next - Michael Crichton)

Member Name: sun-is-shining

Product:	Next - Michael Crichton
Date:	27/05/09 (7 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stories are interesting

Disadvantages: Too many stories/characters make it a difficult read

I really enjoyed Michael Crichton's book 'Prey' so it was just natural that I bought next as soon as it was published. Disappointing is surly to strong but honestly, I wouldn't spend that money again on it. It is less the content of the story that disappointed, no the layout of the story is the real problem.

It is one of Crichton's favourite topics 'when technology goes wrong'. The base is good, incidents that can happen when gene technology is not monitored/regulated enough.

Unlike his other books there's no real storyline in 'Next' - it's a mix of separate stories combined by the main topic about failed gene technology.
Topics like unauthorized misuse cells, transgenic animals and irresponsible use of modified genes are red-hot. The stories were quite interesting although the sometimes seamed to be too far fetched.

Most of the characters are unappealing, dull and not really worked out; that makes it quite hard to be interested in their future - a major criteria for a good read. Due to the sheer number of characters introduced it's hard to remember all the names/who's involved in which story. Some characters disappear for 50 pages, some never turn up again, and after the 10th substorie you just don't want to concentrate on it anymore.

'Next' has the potential to a good read. If he'd chosen to write several short stories without combining them it would have been a lot more enjoyable and easy to read. I like his style of writing, short, laconic and witty. The single stories are interesting and with newspaper articles included in the book almost seam to be too real.

But as I cannot rearrange the chapters I have to say next to 'Next' - I'm sorry for that horrible joke, it just had to be :-)

Summary: There are better but also worse Crichton books