Michael Crichton puts a lot of research into his novels. No matter the topic, there is always a scientific aspect to them and his research makes sure that the plots sound scientifically possible. I have enjoyed every book of his that I have read. "Coma" and "Andromeda Strain" were early efforts that most people have heard of and were made into movies. This latest effort uses computer technology, robotics, and nanotechnology, meaning the manufacture of things very small.
Jack Forman was a computer scientist. He was laid off from his job and his a stay at home dad taking care of his two kids. His wife Julia is an executive with Xymos Technology, a cutting edge computer science firm. He has been frustrated trying to find a new job because he left his old job under a cloud. He was accused of giving away company secrets, though the culprit was actually someone else.
His wife continues to support them, but she has not been herself lately. She has been mean, rude, temperamental, and at times, just plain odd. Some nights she doesn't come home at all, claiming its the job keeping her away.
Jack suspects she's having an affair, until he gets an unexpected phone call. Xymos wants to hire him. It seems the project they are working on has gotten a bit out of their control. The "company secrets" of Jack's old firm were sold to Xymos. The computer program he designed uses a "predator-prey" "thought" process to operate. The software was combined with miniaturized robots. Unfortunately something has gone wrong with the program and the "swarm" of robots has escaped the lab. And the swarm seems to be reproducing. It also seems to be capable of learning, something that artificial intelligence is not supposed to be able to do. And the swarm kills.
The book is very technical. If you don't have some concept of computers and how they operate, you simply will not understand this book or what makes it suspenseful. The experiment being conducted by Xymos is initially to use these very miniaturized cameras for surgeries, so doctors can view inside the human body when operating. The cameras are driven by a complex computer program. But Xymos has a contract to use them for military applications. The experiments go awry. This is all very technical, but interesting if the science behind the explanations are true. I found this aspect interesting myself, though others may not.
Other than Jack, there isn't alot of characterization, though his character is developed very well. Just when he is at the point of despair, he remembers that he has children he has to take care of, despite what his wife is doing. He figures out who the "bad guy" really is and fights, despite the fact that he knows he may not make it. But for the good of human kind he feels he has to. The other characters are only sketches, but enough information is given to put them on the "good" side or the "bad" side. This works pretty well, when everyone is confined inside an air-controlled locked environment like a lab in a remote location. When people start dying, who did it? The suspects are pretty limited and its someone you know. So despite the lack of in-depth characterization, it worked well for the story line.
Like all Crichton novels, the book is fast reading. The chapters are short, the dialogue extensive, and the descriptions kept to a minimum. The only dense paragraphs of narrative generally have to do with what the Jack character is thinking, which is acceptable. There are some pages dealing with technical discussions of the "swarm" of robots, which are a little slower to read because they are technical. But you need to take your time with those areas or you won't understand what is going on.
The setting is unique, being most of the action takes place in a remove Nevada desert. No one sets their story in Nevada unless it is Las Vegas so this was interesting. Having an enemy made up of tiny robots was definitely unique--but who is controlling them and making them do what they do? This is also an interesting twist, since most bad guys like to be more hands on.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The characters, the setting, and the plot were unique and have not been done before. I enjoy the technical aspects of Crichton's novels as it seems like a little bit more thought goes into them, instead of just dashing off cookie cutter versions of earlier books. I look forward to his next effort.
Deep in the Nevada desert, the Xymos Corporation has built a state-of-the-art fabrication plant, surrounded by nothing for miles. Inside, eight people...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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