this post was submitted on 09 Apr 2025
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You disliked the ending to The Sphere more than The Andromeda Strain?
I haven’t read the Andromeda Strain…I guess I shouldn’t?
I actually enjoyed 90% of Sphere, but then the ending just…killed it. Like, it comes off as if he just got sick of writing the story despite not having a way to end it.
I’m not a book person, but I think Andromeda Strain is an interesting book. I like how it displays the (from today’s point of view) horribly outdated technology as advanced high-tech.
One of the cases of a mildly science fiction book, that got overtaken by reality.
I think the best part of the book was the hubris of the government. They threw technology at a problem that was untested and unplanned.
Such a late 80s and 90s sentiment
scientific hubris is the underlying theme of almost all of Crichton's sci-fi books.
Actually I really liked The Andromeda Strain including its ending, but it had a similar let down feeling. I think it’s worth the read. See how we thought about pandemics in the 90s before we had a major outbreak in the western world (excluding HIV)
Crichton is best when he’s writing hard science fiction like Andromeda or Jurassic Park. Sphere is too science fantasy for him and he struggles with how to make it work.