Reviewed By: Ali Karim - RAM
![[Book Cover graphic]](http://www.booksnbytes.com/book_covers/crichton_next.gif)
Next
Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada HC
Michael Crichton
Class/Genre: Mystery Science Fiction Techno Thriller
HarperCollins UK, £17-99
Firstly let me warn you, "NEXT" is no "Jurassic Park" nor is it an "Andromeda Strain" - but most importantly it isn't a "State of Fear" either, thankfully. "Next" is however an interesting tale about the perils and the benefits of genetic manipulation. The novel is structured like a Robert Altman movie, featuring several intersecting characters trying to understand the impact of manipulating human and animal genes, with the strands all impacting each other toward a rather bleak conclusion. Replete with cutting edge science, it also has doses of pathos with characters competing in harnessing genetic technology for advancing the human genome to the next level. We see multilingual primates such as the speaking chimp Dave, who is only 400 genes short of being a man. A taking parrot called Gerard with an I.Q. of a human, and also Californian scientists rushing to patent fragments of human genomes to cure diseases, and advance human evolution. The characters weave in and out of the story showing that caution must be exercised in embracing this technology. One of the scientists thinks he may have discovered a genetic cure for drug-addiction, only to discover that his genetic spray has a dark-side.
Crichton is also at his most funny, almost playful because when it comes genetic manipulation we're all like children opening up Pandora's box. With 3 Million copies printed and despatched to bookstores worldwide, this like Crichton's previous work, is an important addition to the Techno-Thriller genre. In two words, I'd sum Next up as Great Fun.
Ali Karim - RAM
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Ali Karim - RAM
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