Rising Sun / Jurassic Park / Sphere

by Michael Crichton

Here are three of Michael Crichton's research-intensive thrillers in one dandy box. Rising Sun was as timely in 1992 as it now seems ironic. It brilliantly taps the early-'90s American terror of Japan's then apparently invincible high-tech economy with a snappy murder mystery. While celebs rub elbows at the opening party of a Japanese high-rise in L.A., a gorgeous woman is murdered in a boardroom far above. Surveillance cameras capture the deed, but looks deceive, and LAPD detective John Conner soon discovers that when these Japanese guys say "business is war," they're not kidding.

Jurassic Park--the famous tale of an entrepreneur who clones dinosaurs who then run amok in what was supposed to be a theme park--is as good a thriller in book form as the movie version, and far more full of the fun, scary ideas that Crichton's books exist to popularize. Malcolm the malcontent scientist is even better than he was in the film. (You might also check out The Science of Jurassic Park and the Lost World.)

Sphere concerns an ancient spaceship on the ocean floor, black holes, and the perils of investigating all of the above. Not just sci-fi, Sphere reflects Crichton's keen interest in the unexplained powers of the human mind. The book also contains a profound lesson: when you're staring down a giant squid with an eyeball the size of a dinner plate, don't blink first.

Genres: Fiction

paper

First published November 1, 1993

About the author

John Michael Crichton was an American author, screenwriter, and filmmaker whose prolific career left an indelible mark on popular culture and speculative fiction. Raised on Long Island, he displayed a precocious talent for writing, publishing an article in The New York Times at sixteen. Initially enrolling at Harvard as an English major, he switched to biological anthropology after discovering a preference for scientific study over literature. He graduated summa cum laude and received a fellowship to lecture in anthropology at Cambridge. Later attending Harvard Medical School, he earned his MD but chose not to practice, dedicating himself to writing instead. His medical background profoundly influenced his novels, providing authentic scientific and technical underpinnings that became a hallmark of his work. Crichton began writing under pseudonyms, producing suspenseful thrillers as John Lange, including Odds On, Scratch One, and Easy Go, and as Jeffrey Hudson with A Case of Need, earning him an Edgar Award. His first major success under his own name, The Andromeda Strain, established his signature blend of scientific authenticity, tension, and exploration of technological hazards, leading to its film adaptation. Over his career, he wrote 25 novels, including The Terminal Man, The Great Train Robbery, Congo, Sphere, Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure, The Lost World, Airframe, Timeline, Prey, State of Fear, and Next, several adapted into major films, with four additional works published posthumously. Crichton also made significant contributions to film and television. He wrote and directed Westworld, pioneering the use of 2D computer-generated imagery, and later directed Coma, The First Great Train Robbery, Looker, and Runaway. He created the influential medical drama ER, which he executive produced and developed with Steven Spielberg, achieving critical and commercial success. Many of his novels, most famously Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World, became cultural phenomena, combining imaginative adventure with grounded scientific speculation, often exploring humanity’s overreach in genetics, biotechnology, and complex systems. His literary style was notable for integrating meticulous scientific detail, suspense, and moral cautionary themes. His works frequently addressed the failure of complex systems—biological, technological, or organizational—demonstrating the unpredictable consequences of human hubris. Employing techniques such as first-person narratives, false documents, fictionalized scientific reports, and assembling expert teams to tackle crises, Crichton created immersive stories appealing to both popular and scholarly audiences. His exploration of genetics, paleontology, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence revealed both fascination and caution about humanity’s technological ambitions, while his early non-fiction, such as Five Patients and Electronic Life, reflected his scientific insight and forward-thinking approach to computers and programming. Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall, Crichton experienced social isolation in adolescence and later pursued meditation and consultations with psychics, cultivating a lifelong interest in human consciousness and alternative experiences. A workaholic, he approached writing with disciplined ritualistic methodology, often retreating entirely to complete a novel in six or seven weeks. He was married five times, fathered two children, and maintained a wide-ranging collection of 20th-century American art. Crichton engaged in political and scientific discourse, particularly regarding global warming, where he was an outspoken skeptic and testified before the U.S. Senate. He contributed significantly to the discussion of intellectual property, technology, and environmental policy, coining concepts such as the Gell-Mann amnesia effect. Throughout his life, he received numerous awards, including Edgar Awards, a Peabody Award for ER, an Aca

Reviews

[Kannon Keim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book ⅘ stars because I enjoyed all the action it had in it. Many things were different from the movie. I disliked the book because it took a while to get into it. I also liked the humor that was in the book sometimes, and the author did a good job at describing.

Many of the things that happened in the book didn’t happen in the movie. I thought that was nice knowing more about the actual story. Like in the beginning of the movie, a guy doesn’t get attacked by a velociraptor. It is more like jurassic world in the beginning.

I disliked this book because in chapter around 4-7 it was pretty boring and it took a while for things to happen. I did like how on page 49 it added part from the movie on where scientists talk about it being a new species of lizard. It also has some humor, when the scientist talk about how his kid drew a dinosaur better than the scientist. Many of the parts where everyone should be quiet, one of the weird scientists would make a noise and ruin their cover.

Overall I think Michael Crichton did a good job, There were sometimes I thought I could feel a dinosaur breathing on the back of my neck. When a dinosaur first was attacking people I didn’t even know what would happen next, everything was so sudden.

I would recommend this book to people who like action and a little bit or paleontology. It is a very descriptive book and I think everyone should read it, if you liked the movie you would like the book.

[LambchoP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Crichton is one of the best science fiction writers of all time! He single handedly coined the genre "techno thriller", and while there have been authors who have written these kinds of books since, no one has done it better than Mr. Crichton. One of my top three authors of all time:)

[Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some people love dinosaurs and wish that they were alive, but what would happen if those wishes became a reality? In Michael Crichton's thrilling series Jurassic Park, he brings those dinosaurs on a realistic and horrifying level. There were plenty moments in the book that made for great suspense. The more memorable moment of suspense being when Lex and Tim are being stalked by velociraptors. There was also some good character development between all the amazing dinosaurs. When Allan, John, and the others were eating at a dinner table they talked about how they felt about the park which gave insight to how they felt actually seeing the dinosaurs. And lastly, there was some fantastic imagery in the book. The more enjoyable form of imagery demonstrated in the book is when Allan, Ellie, and Ian first see one of the dinosaurs John has created. This book is highly recommended for people who love dinosaurs or take a liking to action book series's.

[Kay Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jurrasic Park is a great dinosaur story. I personally love the baby raptor (I think that's what jumped into Tim's arms) when I imagined the raptor I saw a cute baby raptor.

If you're a dinosaur NUT you should DEFINITELY read this awesome Jurassic tale!

I have no idea when I finished this. But I am angry that

Jurassic Park got blown up in the book! (Not in the movie I hope. Because there's Jurassic park II and III!!)


Book is a must read. I don't know if you'll get chomped into the book that you can't stop reading it or not but you must read this!

x Dinosaur Roars x Welcome to Jurassic Park!

[Mcaries amistad · Rating 3 out of 5]

i learned about different types of dinosaurs. and plus the suspense in some scenes were off the wall. the authors broke down every scene to the smallest detail. it felt like i was in the island of Costa Rica running from dinosaurs.

[Aaron Krell]

This book talks about how dinosaurs are recreated and brought onto an Island. But the important thing about this book is the way they describe the dinosaurs in this story

[Lois · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm about 70 pages from finishing this book, but flat and sometimes stereotypical characters have kept me from being at all engrossed in it despite its having a fantastic basic story concept.

[Ashton · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it because it was the exact thing like in the movie.

[Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

on page 144 it is so epic i know all the dinosaurs so far!!!!!!!!!!

[Shakira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as enjoyable as the 1st, but a good read nonetheless.

[William Jones]

If you like Dinosaurs this is YOUR BOOK!!!!

[Eduardo Ferreira · Rating 2 out of 5]

lembro que li desesperado durante uma semana após o filme. rs... guris.

[Fred Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it