Helpful Score: 6
Ive been a big fan of Michael Crichton for years, since Andromeda Strain. I did not enjoy this book. Its as if he tried to explore every single possible ramification of genetic engineering. There are a dozen plots, none of them really well-developed, and only a few of them intersecting at the end to explain anything. The chapters are extremely short as he jumps from one subplot to another (is this a novel or a movie script hes writing?). The characters are underdeveloped, and there was not one character I cared about. Well, maybe I cared about Gerard. Crichton could have done so much with the subject, very disappointing.
Helpful Score: 5
This book was very interesting, to say the least, filled with ethical issues to think about! The story was engaging, thrilling, and even a bit funny at times, but I felt like I was left hangin' with regard to some of the characters. There were too many characters to keep up with, too many sub plots, and one mysterious french woman I never quite figured out. Gerard, the transgenic talking parrot, was awesome, but the whole Dave situation, humanzees, wow, a very frightening concept. I really liked the Author's Note at the end. I think I share his views on many of the ethical issues brought up in this book. I don't think genes should be patented either. It's too bad business and science cannot be kept separate.
Helpful Score: 5
This is a book taking current biological (transgenic) research to the Nth degree. It is a fascinating book from the conceptual point. The bibliography is just as impressive as the book. Anyone who wants to see where cloning and genetic manipulation could take us would be interested in the fictional account.
Helpful Score: 4
NEXt blends fact and fiction into a tale of a coming world where nothing is what it seems. It's what can happen, may happen and will happen if 'good people do nothing'. Challenges our sense of reality and notions of morality.
Helpful Score: 4
Describes frightening world of science turned into a business of playing with genes. Profiting off creating creatures not meant to be genetically combined such as humans and apes. Advertising on fish? Scary to think they already have created a cat that people are Not allergic too, and are now creating colored fish.
