Thursday, November 20, 2008

The Andromeda Strain

Author: Michael Crichton

First line: A man with binoculars.

Why you should read this book: Crichton's classic novel is a prescient look at a topic that is of great concern to us today, but scarcely registered on the consciousness of readers in 1969: biological destruction through microorganisms. When a government program to develop bacteriological warfare through extraterrestrial agents actually results in the recovery of lethal alien organisms, a team of very human men leap into action in an underground research facility, where theories are created, experiments performed, and mistakes made. As with all of Crichton's work, there is no happy ending, just a cautionary message for those who would meddle with forces beyond human control.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Hypochondria.

2 comments:

Comrade Kevin said...

Don't you think Americans are a little on the hypochondriacal side anyway?

Dragon said...

no doubt, but we're also completely unprepared for a pandemic!