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orangerfulcuz I'm pretty?
cuz you're pretty.
so I'm reading 'The Andromeda Strain' because it's one of the few Crichton books i have not read (though I have a feeling I listened to the book on tape back in the day). Anyhoo, like all Michael Crichton novels, it sucks you in pretty quick. But I had to check because this felt like a first novel. His style is there but it's not quite perfect. And for some reason he ends every few chapters with these cheesy "if only they had done this" closing that is more distracting than tension building. I know he's trying to pretend like the book is actually a non-fiction account of the events, but I find it annoying.
I'm wondering how out of date some of the stuff in here is now. They talk about Electron Microscopes, and all these other scientfic stuff, and how expensive it is and yadda yadda. And back in 1969, when the book was published, it was probably very cutting edge. Now I'm curious if that stuff is still in use. I'm gonna rent the movie as soon as I'm done just to see how it holds up. It was made back in the 1970s, so it will be a tad dated in the look. Bet they could make a pretty intense updated version if they wanted to.
I think the reason this book works so well, even now, is because I don't think humans truly understand science and medicine as much as we like to think we do. I think that's another reason I really enjoy "Firefly". Instead of a "Star Trek" style medical system, where everything is done with lasers and scanning and some such, the doctor on Firefly still has to cut into you and sew you back up afterwards. Even the episode where they end up in the hospital on a core planet, they save a patient who just had open heart surgery. The human body, and biology in general will probably always remain a mystery.
Crichton talks about how they have no real definition for "Life" because every definition has exceptions. He mentions one and immediately debunks it, and I'm pretty sure it's the one that we were all taught in high school biology.
I love michael crichton books. I love the pacing and the action. He's crap at character development though. He never tells you what anyone looks like unless they are deformed in some way. Which isn't really that big a deal I suppose, when your focus is on the science and suspense.
I want to start writing again. Anyone want to help me with a little excercise? It's simple - just give me a randon sentence to be my starting sentence. Can be anything - a bit of dialogue, a description, an action. Just one quick sentence to get my brain going. I need to practice.
cuz you're pretty.
so I'm reading 'The Andromeda Strain' because it's one of the few Crichton books i have not read (though I have a feeling I listened to the book on tape back in the day). Anyhoo, like all Michael Crichton novels, it sucks you in pretty quick. But I had to check because this felt like a first novel. His style is there but it's not quite perfect. And for some reason he ends every few chapters with these cheesy "if only they had done this" closing that is more distracting than tension building. I know he's trying to pretend like the book is actually a non-fiction account of the events, but I find it annoying.
I'm wondering how out of date some of the stuff in here is now. They talk about Electron Microscopes, and all these other scientfic stuff, and how expensive it is and yadda yadda. And back in 1969, when the book was published, it was probably very cutting edge. Now I'm curious if that stuff is still in use. I'm gonna rent the movie as soon as I'm done just to see how it holds up. It was made back in the 1970s, so it will be a tad dated in the look. Bet they could make a pretty intense updated version if they wanted to.
I think the reason this book works so well, even now, is because I don't think humans truly understand science and medicine as much as we like to think we do. I think that's another reason I really enjoy "Firefly". Instead of a "Star Trek" style medical system, where everything is done with lasers and scanning and some such, the doctor on Firefly still has to cut into you and sew you back up afterwards. Even the episode where they end up in the hospital on a core planet, they save a patient who just had open heart surgery. The human body, and biology in general will probably always remain a mystery.
Crichton talks about how they have no real definition for "Life" because every definition has exceptions. He mentions one and immediately debunks it, and I'm pretty sure it's the one that we were all taught in high school biology.
I love michael crichton books. I love the pacing and the action. He's crap at character development though. He never tells you what anyone looks like unless they are deformed in some way. Which isn't really that big a deal I suppose, when your focus is on the science and suspense.
I want to start writing again. Anyone want to help me with a little excercise? It's simple - just give me a randon sentence to be my starting sentence. Can be anything - a bit of dialogue, a description, an action. Just one quick sentence to get my brain going. I need to practice.
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(no subject)
Date: 2004-05-09 06:46 pm (UTC)electron microscopes are definitely in use. you can see cell stuff with them.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-05-09 07:32 pm (UTC)The electron microscope was first prototyped in the early 30s, but I don't think they really did much until the mid 50s. And electron microscope tech has continued to improve through the present.
As far as men not understanding science as much as they think, that reminds me of the whole "Man vs. Nature" conflict we covered back in American Dream with Jack London's to build a fire. Any good scientist or doctor will tell you that we don't really know shit. However, the scientific method, when actually followed, is pretty sound.
Ooo, starting sentence..."The night was hot"..."The night was...sultry...it's too damn sultry in here. OWEN! BATH!!" Owen loves his mamma, Owen loves his mamma!
OK, I'll give you a serious one later.