My late dad once had an opportunity to work at Crichton's estate in the 90s (phone service repairman). He was also a huge fan of Crichton's work and got to meet him while he was there, telling him that he particularly loved the ending to Sphere and was impressed how he came up with it. According to him Crichton's response was very humble, explaining that he had a great literary team around him that helped hone the story as well as the ending to what it became. Always seemed like a really great and intelligent person, as well as a phenomenal author!
Excellent review that sells the book well. Good to know that the characters are well fleshed out. I have been preparing my wife to read a Crichton with me so we can talk about it and exchange opinions. We are about to finish the liveship trader trilogy by Hobbs and this could be our next book!
I loved it. Found it on one of these shelves with books to take home for free. Amazing concept, I was blown away. And the conversations between scientists that you've mentioned are just incredible. Like: what would aliens look like, what would be the problems etc. I really like that the main character was a psychologist and that he analysed everybody's behaviour all the time. Great book.
I've been following along with the read-along since the beginning. This has been my favorite Crichton so far. I've already gone ahead and read Jurassic Park and I'm halfway through Rising Sun, but I still can't stop thinking about how fantastic Sphere was!
I had so much fun with this book. If Congo was the book that kept me on the Crichton readalong, then this book made me excited to read. I devoured this book. The last half had me on the edge of my seat and that ending though…
I also thought the tonal shift between a scientific horror and a psychological horror was incredibly well done. I’ve never had a book subvert my genre expectations like that and I think he did it masterfully
Mike, the reason I never read Crichton is because I saw Sphere and Congo and those movies dont intrigue me enough to want to read the books. Jurassic Park was good but Im not as crazy about dinos as other ppl. But after your enthusiastic reviews, I will give Sphere and Congo a read!
I did the same with Jurassic Park. Read that book so many times that my old paperbacks started loosing pages. Now I’ve got the beautiful, Barns&Noble hardcover edition.
Now THIS is a movie I'd love to see them try to re-film today. I distinctly remember reading this for the first time in the 8th grade. I had spent one year in a different school and I remember sitting at desks in that school reading. Recently re-read it last year. It's not one of my favorites of his, but that's purely based on how I connected with the characters. It's still a well written solid book that I sped through in a few days because I just wanted to know what happened next!
One of them ?Hoffman said the movie needed another few weeks (more than they had) to make it come out well. Don’t remember if he was referring to editing, or what.
Sphere is one of my favorite books of all time. It was the first book I ever read that made me lose sleep from fear, I finished it at about 3 am as a child and was unable to sleep the rest of the night. I credit that book as being one of the reasons I love horror and am deeply fascinated by black holes to this day, like 20 years later. Its such a good slow burn.
I just finished this book, and it was amazing! The last act was insanely tense and I really liked the ending. The characters were definitely great this time too. I'm going to read everything he's written. Thank you, Mike!
I get the argument that the characters are unlikeable, but that's one of Norman's (the main character) big frustrations as well, how scientists consider the irrational and emotional parts of human nature beneath them even while their own personal lives fall apart.
I'm listening to it and the book definitely has a eerie/mysterious/ almost creepy vibe to it. But I think the readers voice that I'm listening to amplifies it lol.
The adaptation was in fact a year after event horizon, which sadly did not have any real success till years after given it was rushed to be created in only 10 months. That was why I was excited to watch the movie, because I was so creeped out by event horizon. I was twelve when I watched that, thirteen when I watched sphere, and I enjoyed it because of the enemy. How can you escape that? Never read the book, but I am eager to.
This is the only Crichton book I've read. I remember finishing it and just feeling a little underwhelmed... but then I just kept thinking about it and all of the implications of that ending and - whew - it changed my mind! I still think about this one often!
It's true, Sphere is def one of his best. Such a mind bender. I need to do a reread since I havent read Crichton since I was a teenager, but off the top of my head: 1. Sphere 2. Lost World 3. Jurassic Park 4. Eaters of the Dead 5. Congo 6. Timeline 7. Rising Sun 8. State of Fear 9. Andromeda Strain 10. Disclosure
Excellent review but to your point about him never writing a “bad guy” I mostly agree. With that being said, I do think that Dodgson is the closest we’ve gotten to aforementioned bad guy. I was basically cheering when Sarah pushed him out for the Rex haha.
Someone gave Sphere a 4* rating, saying he was a good storyteller, but a bad writer. Because he kept using the word, ‘said’ even when characters were asking questions. He said, Beth said, Norman said. No, asked, replied, retorted etc. Idk what do you think?
I remember really enjoying this book. It has been a few years since I read it. I also really enjoyed Prey. Also wanted to say I love the Stargate shirt.
Listen guys, there's a reason we scientists aren't exciting. It takes a certain personality to slave away in a lab for years in order to solve the world's problems. Let us keep to out quiet little selves, thank you.
Read this one as a teen...some 20 odd years ago...Ive always liked the movie and remember liking the book but its probably due for a reread on my part.
Sphere was always a top 3 favorite of mine, with Timeline and Jurassic Park. I didn't like the movie unfortunately. You are spot on in your critique. I guess I was a fan of his long before I knew who Crichton was since I liked his movies Looker, Westworld, and Runaway, which I didn't know he did.
I saw the movie first back in the day and loved it, I wanted to read this forever, I finally did it earlier this year, and I liked it but it dragged a bit for my liking. I then rewatch the movie and I agree it is on the slow side and not as good as I remember it. I love the ending it blew my mind.
Sphere reminded me a lot about other books about a “mysterious object”, mainly those by Arthur C Clarke who has authored 2001 and Rendezvous with Rama (in retrospect NOT recommended books).
Hey Mike, I agree that Sphere (1987) the book was great, and so was Congo (1980). Andromeda Strain (1969) was awesome. The books blow the movies out of the water.
It's classified as science fiction horror. I would say it's Sphere, Jurassic Park and most of Michael crichton's works are more science fiction thrillers. Because they're aiming to be more exciting than scary.
Sphere is at the top of my list as to where I want to start with Michael Crichton! I would like to read Jurassic Park as well but I want to get a sense of Michael Crichton's writing without being influenced by the film, so I will start with Sphere then try Jurassic Park!
Mike, don’t get offended by my question please. I ask it as a cancer survivor, but did you ever have some kind of serious illness? I notice some appearance traits I have after recovering from cancer years ago, and which I still have.
I personally loved Sphere, I recently read the book for the first time this week. Its a story that had me thinking back to a lot. The 1998 movie really doesn't do the story justice and I would really like another director to take another crack at a film and incorporate much more ideas from the book.
I'm excited to dive into that collection! I have it too, I'll want something lighter after I finished Dune. I've read a few of Crichton's novels (Jurassic Park, The Lost World, and Pirate Latutudes), and thought for the most part they were good but not great... I'm willing to give him another try. Interested to hear your thoughts on Lost World when the time comes, I felt it was pretty much a complete filler novel made so they could have another movie.
I've read five Crichton books so far (Jurassic Park, The Lost World, Prey, Congo, and Sphere) and Sphere was honestly my least favorite so far. It started out very fascinating, but I feel like the story got derailed a bit about two thirds in and it ultimately didn't live up to the hype for me. I definitely still enjoyed it and found all of the science about space and psychology interesting though.
Spoilers: I personally didnt love the last bit of the book. Once its revealed that all three of them had been in the sphere, it went downhill fast in my opinion. It felt way too convenient - theyre at eachothers throats…but actually what if they werent”. Not to mention the idea of just wishing it all away (even if the twist of beth keeping the power is neat).
The way you describe this at some points, it's sounds inspired by H.P. Lovecraft which intrigues me... I would like to read Crichton, but he's lower on my list unfortunately.. maybe I can move one up
i really loved the first half of this book. The concept was fresh and exciting and the plot had plenty of twists and turns, but the characters were so unlikable by the end i was pretty happy to just finish the book and be rid of them. There were some other problems i had with it, but the characters were by far my biggest gripe.
My late dad once had an opportunity to work at Crichton's estate in the 90s (phone service repairman). He was also a huge fan of Crichton's work and got to meet him while he was there, telling him that he particularly loved the ending to Sphere and was impressed how he came up with it. According to him Crichton's response was very humble, explaining that he had a great literary team around him that helped hone the story as well as the ending to what it became. Always seemed like a really great and intelligent person, as well as a phenomenal author!
The last time I read Sphere was when I was in grade school in the 90s. I just reread it a few months ago in just 2 days. It still holds up very well!
Excellent review that sells the book well. Good to know that the characters are well fleshed out. I have been preparing my wife to read a Crichton with me so we can talk about it and exchange opinions. We are about to finish the liveship trader trilogy by Hobbs and this could be our next book!
I loved it. Such an imagination Chricton has, that blows my mind. And I enjoyed all the puzzle solving.
I loved it. Found it on one of these shelves with books to take home for free. Amazing concept, I was blown away. And the conversations between scientists that you've mentioned are just incredible. Like: what would aliens look like, what would be the problems etc. I really like that the main character was a psychologist and that he analysed everybody's behaviour all the time. Great book.
I've been following along with the read-along since the beginning. This has been my favorite Crichton so far. I've already gone ahead and read Jurassic Park and I'm halfway through Rising Sun, but I still can't stop thinking about how fantastic Sphere was!
Finished Rising Sun. My review should be on my channel within a week
I had so much fun with this book. If Congo was the book that kept me on the Crichton readalong, then this book made me excited to read. I devoured this book. The last half had me on the edge of my seat and that ending though…
I also thought the tonal shift between a scientific horror and a psychological horror was incredibly well done. I’ve never had a book subvert my genre expectations like that and I think he did it masterfully
This is the book I really don't want to end...
I’ve only read 1 Crichton and that was Jurassic park. Looking forward to reading more and I might pick this one up next
You should, it's absolutely terrific
Lost World was pretty good too
Mike, the reason I never read Crichton is because I saw Sphere and Congo and those movies dont intrigue me enough to want to read the books. Jurassic Park was good but Im not as crazy about dinos as other ppl. But after your enthusiastic reviews, I will give Sphere and Congo a read!
I read Sphere per your recommendation earlier this year. Loved it! It was a nice change-of-pace from the Malazan read-along!
Read this when I was 12 and have read it twice since. Still my favorite book
Great review, I'm recently read Congo and now I'm reading Sphere thanks to your excitement for the author!
Finally ready with the book, I really liked it! Still wondering what actually happened in the end
He's my fav author of all time, this book was really really terrifying to read.
If among us was a horror novel.
Yessss I've been waiting for you to do this one.
I find it hilarious that I just picked up Sphere for the first time and this review showed up. I love the way you reviewed the book. THANK YOU!
One of my favorite books. I only had a paperback but I had to buy another one because I read the first to pieces.
I did the same with Jurassic Park. Read that book so many times that my old paperbacks started loosing pages. Now I’ve got the beautiful, Barns&Noble hardcover edition.
Now THIS is a movie I'd love to see them try to re-film today.
I distinctly remember reading this for the first time in the 8th grade. I had spent one year in a different school and I remember sitting at desks in that school reading. Recently re-read it last year. It's not one of my favorites of his, but that's purely based on how I connected with the characters. It's still a well written solid book that I sped through in a few days because I just wanted to know what happened next!
One of them ?Hoffman said the movie needed another few weeks (more than they had) to make it come out well. Don’t remember if he was referring to editing, or what.
This was my first ever Sci Fi book and it has a special place in my heart
Sphere is one of my favorite books of all time. It was the first book I ever read that made me lose sleep from fear, I finished it at about 3 am as a child and was unable to sleep the rest of the night. I credit that book as being one of the reasons I love horror and am deeply fascinated by black holes to this day, like 20 years later. Its such a good slow burn.
Started reading this book after I watched this review and I liked it a lot. I liked the ending. I think it works well.
This is an amazing book and I highly recommend the movie adaptation as well, it's very good, especially the score by Elliot Goldenthal.
I just finished this book, and it was amazing! The last act was insanely tense and I really liked the ending.
The characters were definitely great this time too. I'm going to read everything he's written.
Thank you, Mike!
Never knew it was a Critchon book , thanks to you im reading it now
I can't wait to re-read Sphere. I think this is about 5 books down from my current TBR list. Looking forward to the Jurassic Park Review.!!!!!
Is it "re-read" or "reread"? I never know...
@@lukeskywalker6809 Idk either. To me, whatever works.
😄 Great advice, I’ll take it, thanks, buddy
I just read JP last month. Loved it. Read it in about a week. Couldnt put it down.
I get the argument that the characters are unlikeable, but that's one of Norman's (the main character) big frustrations as well, how scientists consider the irrational and emotional parts of human nature beneath them even while their own personal lives fall apart.
I can see your shadow.
I read this about twenty years ago as well. Thanks for reminding me of it. I’m going to reread.
I really enjoyed this one, but the movie did not do it justice. So happy you are a crichtonite like me!
Crichtonian.
this is the 2nd book I ever read not assigned in school and I read for fun as a kid, love it!
From what I remember, this was my favorite of the 5 or 6 of his I read back in the day.
I read this in high-school in 2008, it was an amazing read and I looked up squid ball Ocean alien Sci book and found this review lol
Congo was pretty bad but the saving grace was the 20 seconds of Bruce Campbell. He automatically makes a movie 5/5.
I think the only good difference in the movie is making the sphere a champagne colour. Love the book
I finished reading Jurrasic Park then I checked out the rest of his works. Man's packing heat. My tbr has this chunk of his books now.
Awesome to hear!
I'm listening to it and the book definitely has a eerie/mysterious/ almost creepy vibe to it. But I think the readers voice that I'm listening to amplifies it lol.
The adaptation was in fact a year after event horizon, which sadly did not have any real success till years after given it was rushed to be created in only 10 months. That was why I was excited to watch the movie, because I was so creeped out by event horizon. I was twelve when I watched that, thirteen when I watched sphere, and I enjoyed it because of the enemy. How can you escape that? Never read the book, but I am eager to.
Scifi Psychological Thriller - and my favourite book ever. Can read and re read it and enjoy it the same every time.
This is the only Crichton book I've read. I remember finishing it and just feeling a little underwhelmed... but then I just kept thinking about it and all of the implications of that ending and - whew - it changed my mind! I still think about this one often!
I loved this book. I think it was better than when I read it as a teen. Fingers crossed for a good adaptation.
It's true, Sphere is def one of his best. Such a mind bender. I need to do a reread since I havent read Crichton since I was a teenager, but off the top of my head:
1. Sphere
2. Lost World
3. Jurassic Park
4. Eaters of the Dead
5. Congo
6. Timeline
7. Rising Sun
8. State of Fear
9. Andromeda Strain
10. Disclosure
Excellent review but to your point about him never writing a “bad guy” I mostly agree. With that being said, I do think that Dodgson is the closest we’ve gotten to aforementioned bad guy. I was basically cheering when Sarah pushed him out for the Rex haha.
I'm terrified of the ocean too. I was stung twice by a jellyfish last time I was in the ocean. I can't swim either lol
No thanks.
Someone gave Sphere a 4* rating, saying he was a good storyteller, but a bad writer. Because he kept using the word, ‘said’ even when characters were asking questions.
He said, Beth said, Norman said.
No, asked, replied, retorted etc.
Idk what do you think?
Never bothered me.
It's a fantastic movie in my opinion and you have made a great case for me to go check the book out.
This one's on my list, will try to get to it sooner rather than later
I pick up a Crichton book about once per decade, and I always enjoy them. I don’t ignore his novels deliberately, though. I think I have problems lol
I remember really enjoying this book. It has been a few years since I read it. I also really enjoyed Prey.
Also wanted to say I love the Stargate shirt.
Listen guys, there's a reason we scientists aren't exciting. It takes a certain personality to slave away in a lab for years in order to solve the world's problems. Let us keep to out quiet little selves, thank you.
And I admire that. Probably why I’ve always loved his protagonists.
Read this one as a teen...some 20 odd years ago...Ive always liked the movie and remember liking the book but its probably due for a reread on my part.
Sphere was always a top 3 favorite of mine, with Timeline and Jurassic Park. I didn't like the movie unfortunately. You are spot on in your critique. I guess I was a fan of his long before I knew who Crichton was since I liked his movies Looker, Westworld, and Runaway, which I didn't know he did.
I saw the movie first back in the day and loved it, I wanted to read this forever, I finally did it earlier this year, and I liked it but it dragged a bit for my liking. I then rewatch the movie and I agree it is on the slow side and not as good as I remember it. I love the ending it blew my mind.
My top 5 are micro, Jurassic park, TLW, Congo and eaters of the dead. I love these books but I liked sphere
Anybody know who wrote Helix and Zoo? Such great tv shows, I highly suspect they're adaptations?
Sphere reminded me a lot about other books about a “mysterious object”, mainly those by Arthur C Clarke who has authored 2001 and Rendezvous with Rama (in retrospect NOT recommended books).
Hey Mike, I agree that Sphere (1987) the book was great, and so was Congo (1980). Andromeda Strain (1969) was awesome. The books blow the movies out of the water.
I absolutely LOVED this book. But good lord, the movie was so unbelievably bad. I would love to see a competent remake.
It's classified as science fiction horror. I would say it's Sphere, Jurassic Park and most of Michael crichton's works are more science fiction thrillers. Because they're aiming to be more exciting than scary.
Sphere is at the top of my list as to where I want to start with Michael Crichton! I would like to read Jurassic Park as well but I want to get a sense of Michael Crichton's writing without being influenced by the film, so I will start with Sphere then try Jurassic Park!
You always have great t-shirts. I love the one your wearing. Could you tell me where you got it from?
Mike, don’t get offended by my question please. I ask it as a cancer survivor, but did you ever have some kind of serious illness? I notice some appearance traits I have after recovering from cancer years ago, and which I still have.
Ok, you convinced me!
Great profile pic
Do you plan on reviewing the John Lange books?
I personally loved Sphere, I recently read the book for the first time this week. Its a story that had me thinking back to a lot. The 1998 movie really doesn't do the story justice and I would really like another director to take another crack at a film and incorporate much more ideas from the book.
I'm excited to dive into that collection! I have it too, I'll want something lighter after I finished Dune. I've read a few of Crichton's novels (Jurassic Park, The Lost World, and Pirate Latutudes), and thought for the most part they were good but not great... I'm willing to give him another try.
Interested to hear your thoughts on Lost World when the time comes, I felt it was pretty much a complete filler novel made so they could have another movie.
I've read five Crichton books so far (Jurassic Park, The Lost World, Prey, Congo, and Sphere) and Sphere was honestly my least favorite so far. It started out very fascinating, but I feel like the story got derailed a bit about two thirds in and it ultimately didn't live up to the hype for me. I definitely still enjoyed it and found all of the science about space and psychology interesting though.
Spoilers:
I personally didnt love the last bit of the book. Once its revealed that all three of them had been in the sphere, it went downhill fast in my opinion. It felt way too convenient - theyre at eachothers throats…but actually what if they werent”. Not to mention the idea of just wishing it all away (even if the twist of beth keeping the power is neat).
I really do think this is Crichton's best, or close to it. Neck and neck with Jurassic Park for sure.
Still can't get the squid eye out of my head
Please start something similar to into the multiverse but for Crichton
ZERO mystery to the ending.... Adult men with toys is a freaking mystery.
The way you describe this at some points, it's sounds inspired by H.P. Lovecraft which intrigues me... I would like to read Crichton, but he's lower on my list unfortunately.. maybe I can move one up
Top 3!
Sphere
Andromeda Strain
Jurassic Park
You should play Subnautica to help with your thalassophobia.
I’ve played it through 3 times! I love it. True survival horror.
I remember liking the film. Hmm.
Someone like James Cameron or John Carpenter should have made the movie
Are there any authors you'd recommend for Crichton fans?
Blake Crouch
@@mikesbookreviews Thank you!
Man, do you really like having collections of books you have already read just hanging on your shelf?
Event Horizon came out in 1997.
Sphere came out in 1998.
Scared of the sea? You should read The Swarm by Frank Schätzing. Everything in the sea will try to hurt you.
Michael Crichton is the master. All his books are great. Just Barry Sandler.
I definitely think the movie turned me off from the book when looking at which books to read first of his.
i really loved the first half of this book. The concept was fresh and exciting and the plot had plenty of twists and turns, but the characters were so unlikable by the end i was pretty happy to just finish the book and be rid of them. There were some other problems i had with it, but the characters were by far my biggest gripe.
Didn't you go on a cruise?
He could pre-record it.
@@lukeskywalker6809 NO! I have exposed Mike.
I meant with his confessed fear of water, a cruise would seem like a very unrelaxing vacation
You need to read one pieceee
Man you ramble on too much
First
Did you even talk about the book what a terrible review.