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Eruption
Two of the bestselling storytellers of all time have created an unforgettable thriller. A history-making volcanic eruption is about to destroy the Big Island of Hawaii. But a secret held for decades by the military is more terrifying than the volcano.
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2024
11304 people are currently reading
32710 people want to read
About the author
Michael Crichton
216 books20.2k followersJohn 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,957 reviews
October 9, 2024
It’s disappointing that Crichton’s widow chose James Patterson to finish this book. Makes me nauseous.
July 17, 2024
oh my G O D, y’all.
masterful storytelling. heart-pounding.
masterful storytelling. heart-pounding.
May 28, 2024
Death has not appreciably slowed Michael Crichton’s publication schedule. Since he passed away in 2008, several of his manuscripts caught in the amber of time have been zapped to life and set free to stomp around the world alongside “The Andromeda Strain,” “Jurassic Park,” “Congo” and his many other best-selling novels.
Still, one story that Crichton had worked on for 20 years remained dormant on his hard drive. In a recent statement, Crichton’s wife, Sherri, described discovering the unfinished draft: “When I came to the abrupt end, it was the ultimate cliffhanger — though, for the first time, not one that Michael had meticulously planned.”
This fragment might never have seen the rising sun, but when enough money is involved, life finds a way. So now, trailing thunderous clouds of publicity, the summer’s ultimate literary mashup arrives June 3: “Eruption,” a Crichton manuscript completed by James Patterson. As author partnerships go, this is Godzilla’s head grafted onto King Kong’s body. Of course, Hollywood is already buzzing around it, and why not? Together, these two authors — or their brands — have sold an estimated 675 million copies, one for every year since the Neoproterozoic era.
“Eruption” opens with a prologue set in Hawaii at the Hilo Botanical Gardens. Rachel, a park biologist, “just couldn’t believe her eyes”: Three banyan trees have died and turned black. “Rachel had never seen or read about anything like this. . . . This was something else. Something dark, maybe even dangerous.” An old friend tells her, “Don’t panic,” but “she was scared.”
This is an opening sure to leave amateur gardeners on the edge of their Adirondack chairs. The rest of us will have to take it on faith that even greater horrors than a few withered trees lie ahead.
Sure enough, nine years later, when the action picks up again, 36-year-old John “Mac” MacGregor hears a deep rumbling and feels the beach shaking. As director of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Mac understands what that means. “He’d always known this day would come.” Steam is already wafting up from the top of Mauna Loa, the planet’s biggest active volcano, a colossus that rises almost six miles off the ocean floor. “The eruption was only....
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/...
Still, one story that Crichton had worked on for 20 years remained dormant on his hard drive. In a recent statement, Crichton’s wife, Sherri, described discovering the unfinished draft: “When I came to the abrupt end, it was the ultimate cliffhanger — though, for the first time, not one that Michael had meticulously planned.”
This fragment might never have seen the rising sun, but when enough money is involved, life finds a way. So now, trailing thunderous clouds of publicity, the summer’s ultimate literary mashup arrives June 3: “Eruption,” a Crichton manuscript completed by James Patterson. As author partnerships go, this is Godzilla’s head grafted onto King Kong’s body. Of course, Hollywood is already buzzing around it, and why not? Together, these two authors — or their brands — have sold an estimated 675 million copies, one for every year since the Neoproterozoic era.
“Eruption” opens with a prologue set in Hawaii at the Hilo Botanical Gardens. Rachel, a park biologist, “just couldn’t believe her eyes”: Three banyan trees have died and turned black. “Rachel had never seen or read about anything like this. . . . This was something else. Something dark, maybe even dangerous.” An old friend tells her, “Don’t panic,” but “she was scared.”
This is an opening sure to leave amateur gardeners on the edge of their Adirondack chairs. The rest of us will have to take it on faith that even greater horrors than a few withered trees lie ahead.
Sure enough, nine years later, when the action picks up again, 36-year-old John “Mac” MacGregor hears a deep rumbling and feels the beach shaking. As director of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Mac understands what that means. “He’d always known this day would come.” Steam is already wafting up from the top of Mauna Loa, the planet’s biggest active volcano, a colossus that rises almost six miles off the ocean floor. “The eruption was only....
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/...
June 6, 2024
Atrocious Writing Made My Brain Hurt
OK, it had a serviceable doomsday threat, a bit of interesting volcano lore and the obligatory cliffhanger ending. For that, one star. But I would have preferred to get the information in a short, nonfiction Cliff notes-like summary. This "page turner" was so badly written it became really irritating and distracting to continue reading. So much horrible writing, so little time, but here goes. The characters weren't cartoonish - that insults cartoons- they were crudely drawn stickmen and stickwomen. What little description of their interior lives the novel attempted was clumsily rendered in painfully tedious cliches. The little token sprinkling of Hawaiian phrases was such a pathetic attempt to add a little local color - utterly gratuitous and insultingly inauthentic. So much sloppy writing. The narrator speaks of rowing (!!!) a traditional outrigger canoe and in the next paragraph uses the term paddling. The characters often speak in the voice of the narrator and the narrator lapses into sounding like characters, even using expletives! The dialogue is platitudinous to the point of being almost hilarious, except that it's so bad it's painful. The "top gun" pilot delivering the key explosive sounds absurdly clinical as he describes the gradual dismemberment of his plane. Yet it still lands! Right. There were so many references to "the end of the world" after a while I was rooting for it to happen so that the book would just mercifully end! I won't spoil the ending for you, assuming that you get that far, but it's something so obvious you're incredulous that the volcanology guru MacGregor didn't anticipate it in Chapter 5. My guess is that this was a contract, pen for hire job for Patterson and the publisher gave him 2 weeks to spew it out. "Masterpiece" my tush! What an abysmal hack job! Chrichton's widow would have done better feeding her deceased husband's notes into a generative AI program. I blew 15 bucks ! I think I'll get into the blockbuster/page turner game. Save your money - don't encourage this kind of crass, commercial hucksterism. Belongs on every "Worst" list there is. What a fraud of a book!
OK, it had a serviceable doomsday threat, a bit of interesting volcano lore and the obligatory cliffhanger ending. For that, one star. But I would have preferred to get the information in a short, nonfiction Cliff notes-like summary. This "page turner" was so badly written it became really irritating and distracting to continue reading. So much horrible writing, so little time, but here goes. The characters weren't cartoonish - that insults cartoons- they were crudely drawn stickmen and stickwomen. What little description of their interior lives the novel attempted was clumsily rendered in painfully tedious cliches. The little token sprinkling of Hawaiian phrases was such a pathetic attempt to add a little local color - utterly gratuitous and insultingly inauthentic. So much sloppy writing. The narrator speaks of rowing (!!!) a traditional outrigger canoe and in the next paragraph uses the term paddling. The characters often speak in the voice of the narrator and the narrator lapses into sounding like characters, even using expletives! The dialogue is platitudinous to the point of being almost hilarious, except that it's so bad it's painful. The "top gun" pilot delivering the key explosive sounds absurdly clinical as he describes the gradual dismemberment of his plane. Yet it still lands! Right. There were so many references to "the end of the world" after a while I was rooting for it to happen so that the book would just mercifully end! I won't spoil the ending for you, assuming that you get that far, but it's something so obvious you're incredulous that the volcanology guru MacGregor didn't anticipate it in Chapter 5. My guess is that this was a contract, pen for hire job for Patterson and the publisher gave him 2 weeks to spew it out. "Masterpiece" my tush! What an abysmal hack job! Chrichton's widow would have done better feeding her deceased husband's notes into a generative AI program. I blew 15 bucks ! I think I'll get into the blockbuster/page turner game. Save your money - don't encourage this kind of crass, commercial hucksterism. Belongs on every "Worst" list there is. What a fraud of a book!
August 11, 2024
06/03/24: Sadly, it does not appear that Patterson "finished" the novel, but rewrote it entirely. The style is completely unlike anything Crichton has ever written--it's flat, dull, nondescript, and plodding. I've been a gargantuan fan of MC for many years, and I've read all of his books, some more than once, and I can say with complete conviction... This is not Crichton.
There are references to modern things such as twitter and other social media--things that blossomed years after Crichton took his last breath. And yet, the book was supposedly written in the 80s or 90s? Sure, some references and might need to be updated, but this is quite bad. I knew it would be disastrous, but this is beyond disappointment.
06/27/24: It's been a few weeks since my original review and I'd like to update it. I've read further into the novel and it's gotten better. There are parts which are very clearly written by Patterson, and others (clearly) written by Crichton. There are very distinct stylistic differences (for one, Patterson is very sparse and doesn't use much in the way of scientific terminology, ("I'm the scientist in charge!") and Crichton, quite the opposite--which is what I've always loved about him.) I've upgraded my original rating from one star to two stars. Quite a few people seemed to enjoy my review, so I'll keep updating it as I go to keep it as honest as possible. Thanks for giving me the time of day, folks.
Conclusion: As of 8/1 or so, I've finished the book. It's not terrible as a whole. But it's definitely not classic Crichton. If he did write it, it was something more recent. It's much closer to his later work, like Next, than Jurassic Park. The writing is too simplistic. The scientific exposition that we all know, and love isn't present. And the dialogue isn't even close to something he would have written early on in his career. Maybe he would have published it after Micro. Who knows. But it's safe to say that the ending is total trash, and Patterson should be ashamed for writing such an atrocious conclusion to the 400-page buildup. MC would never do us such an injustice.
There are references to modern things such as twitter and other social media--things that blossomed years after Crichton took his last breath. And yet, the book was supposedly written in the 80s or 90s? Sure, some references and might need to be updated, but this is quite bad. I knew it would be disastrous, but this is beyond disappointment.
06/27/24: It's been a few weeks since my original review and I'd like to update it. I've read further into the novel and it's gotten better. There are parts which are very clearly written by Patterson, and others (clearly) written by Crichton. There are very distinct stylistic differences (for one, Patterson is very sparse and doesn't use much in the way of scientific terminology, ("I'm the scientist in charge!") and Crichton, quite the opposite--which is what I've always loved about him.) I've upgraded my original rating from one star to two stars. Quite a few people seemed to enjoy my review, so I'll keep updating it as I go to keep it as honest as possible. Thanks for giving me the time of day, folks.
Conclusion: As of 8/1 or so, I've finished the book. It's not terrible as a whole. But it's definitely not classic Crichton. If he did write it, it was something more recent. It's much closer to his later work, like Next, than Jurassic Park. The writing is too simplistic. The scientific exposition that we all know, and love isn't present. And the dialogue isn't even close to something he would have written early on in his career. Maybe he would have published it after Micro. Who knows. But it's safe to say that the ending is total trash, and Patterson should be ashamed for writing such an atrocious conclusion to the 400-page buildup. MC would never do us such an injustice.
June 9, 2024
Are you a fan of heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat natural disaster stories? If so, you need to check out this book! It has everything you could want in a volcanic thriller.
Imagine a volcano about to blow, with the power to unleash the worst disaster ever seen. From the moment you start reading, you'll be hooked. The tension builds with every page as the characters face impossible choices and race against time. You'll find yourself rooting for them, hoping they make the right decisions to survive the impending doom.
"Eruption" is a gripping read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. If you love natural disaster stories, this book is a must-read!
Imagine a volcano about to blow, with the power to unleash the worst disaster ever seen. From the moment you start reading, you'll be hooked. The tension builds with every page as the characters face impossible choices and race against time. You'll find yourself rooting for them, hoping they make the right decisions to survive the impending doom.
"Eruption" is a gripping read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. If you love natural disaster stories, this book is a must-read!
November 20, 2025
For many fans of the late Michael Crichton, you might have been just as curious as I was when we heard that his widow, Sherri had released his notes for publication and collaboration with fellow author, James Patterson. Another possible novel from Michael Crichton? Of course, this isn’t the first one after his death. But it is one that apparently remained dormant on his hard drive for 20 years that needed an ending, according to Sherri.
So, why not hand it over to prolific author, Patterson? There is quite the gush acknowledgement by the widow at the end of the book, if interested.
With a story title like “Eruption,” and a book cover with a spouting volcano, I think it is fairly obvious to readers that we have an idea what we are in for from the beginning. What we don’t know is the underpinnings of what it all means. And, that is the tension of what the story wants to deliver to readers.
“The eruption was only days away.”
So, what does this mean exactly?
For the scientist characters working at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, how are they going to “vent the volcano,” warn the public, or what? And for those who have not heard the term, venting a volcano, that seems to suggest that they can safely direct millions of tons of lava wherever they (humans) choose. Wow! Didn’t know we had such power over nature! Did you?
But there is more. There is something that the Army has been doing that this eruption will unleash on to the residents. (No spoilers from me.) Will Mac and his team be able to save the Island in time? Maybe even the world?!
Sometimes I felt like I was reading a movie script. Hmmm…
Crichton was always one dappling in science. And, with Patterson’s thriller mystery voice, was he able to bring the two comfortably together?
Well, it was a bit of a strain, and when the disaster finally hit, it was almost like a relief – you know, like, we were expecting it, so, it finally came! Now we can get on with life.
3.5 stars rounded down for anti-climatic
So, why not hand it over to prolific author, Patterson? There is quite the gush acknowledgement by the widow at the end of the book, if interested.
With a story title like “Eruption,” and a book cover with a spouting volcano, I think it is fairly obvious to readers that we have an idea what we are in for from the beginning. What we don’t know is the underpinnings of what it all means. And, that is the tension of what the story wants to deliver to readers.
“The eruption was only days away.”
So, what does this mean exactly?
For the scientist characters working at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, how are they going to “vent the volcano,” warn the public, or what? And for those who have not heard the term, venting a volcano, that seems to suggest that they can safely direct millions of tons of lava wherever they (humans) choose. Wow! Didn’t know we had such power over nature! Did you?
But there is more. There is something that the Army has been doing that this eruption will unleash on to the residents. (No spoilers from me.) Will Mac and his team be able to save the Island in time? Maybe even the world?!
Sometimes I felt like I was reading a movie script. Hmmm…
Crichton was always one dappling in science. And, with Patterson’s thriller mystery voice, was he able to bring the two comfortably together?
Well, it was a bit of a strain, and when the disaster finally hit, it was almost like a relief – you know, like, we were expecting it, so, it finally came! Now we can get on with life.
3.5 stars rounded down for anti-climatic
June 19, 2024
Just when you thought they had found every way to end the world another one is thought up. This one is unique, combining an erupting volcano with military material stored in the tubes of the volcano that will destroy all plant life, thus the end of the world. The outcome …”Lions and tigers and bears, oh my”.
MacGregor, the geologist who heads the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, would like to keep this on the down low to avoid major panic in the population. Unfortunately, the old saying applies, “Three men can keep a secret if the other two are dead”. What would a novel be without the local politicians becoming involved. And what better way to wreak havoc than using the press for their own personal agenda.
This is a decent read but the ending was a bit anticlimactic. It does make you wonder if this scenario is possible. Enjoy the ride my fellow GR readers.
MacGregor, the geologist who heads the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, would like to keep this on the down low to avoid major panic in the population. Unfortunately, the old saying applies, “Three men can keep a secret if the other two are dead”. What would a novel be without the local politicians becoming involved. And what better way to wreak havoc than using the press for their own personal agenda.
This is a decent read but the ending was a bit anticlimactic. It does make you wonder if this scenario is possible. Enjoy the ride my fellow GR readers.
June 10, 2024
This book is so bad it's almost good again. 😂
Maybe that's why so many people are rating it so high?
I love Crichton. I've been reading his books since I was 12. I also love survival stories and natural disasters and end-of-the-world situations. Something went awry with this one though...the writing was the real disaster.
The characters were laughable caricatures. I cared about nary a one. I cheered with every death. I almost laughed with glee when children died.
The dialogue and writing were repetitive and cliche and super predictable and just...BAD. Bad Bad Bad. Very much NOT GOOD.
So what happened here?
I mean...I do have kind of an idea. And it rhymes with Lames Tatterson.
All copies should be dumped into Mauna Loa with apologies post haste.
Maybe that's why so many people are rating it so high?
I love Crichton. I've been reading his books since I was 12. I also love survival stories and natural disasters and end-of-the-world situations. Something went awry with this one though...the writing was the real disaster.
The characters were laughable caricatures. I cared about nary a one. I cheered with every death. I almost laughed with glee when children died.
The dialogue and writing were repetitive and cliche and super predictable and just...BAD. Bad Bad Bad. Very much NOT GOOD.
So what happened here?
I mean...I do have kind of an idea. And it rhymes with Lames Tatterson.
All copies should be dumped into Mauna Loa with apologies post haste.
July 1, 2024
3.5 stars
This book, about a VERY dangerous volcano, is a collaboration between Michael Crichton and James Patterson. In the backstory, Michael's wife Sherri explains that Michael was interested in volcanoes, and had begun a book, whose working title was 'The Black Zone', before he died. Sherri found the partial manuscript in Michael's archives, and felt the book should be completed. Sherri considered various collaborators, and when she met James Patterson, she knew she'd found the right guy. The result is 'Eruption.'
*****
As the story opens, the Mauna Loa volcano - one of the five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii - is heating up, causing earth tremors, and getting ready to erupt.
Volcanologist Dr. John MacGregor (Mac), head of the Hawaiian Volcano Institute, determines the volcano will explode in about five days.
A volcano eruption is dangerous enough, but Mauna Loa is especially treacherous. Mac learns this when he's summoned to a meeting with some military brass, one of whom is Colonel James Briggs.
Briggs takes Mac to a huge lava tube (like a cave) in Mauna Loa, which is filled with storage receptacles containing radioactive herbicides.
The herbicides are SO souped up they can kill an entire tree in minutes. The bottom line is this: Should the herbicides get into the environment, they'll enter the atmosphere, contaminate the whole world, kill all the plants....and everyone will die. So, if the lava from Mauna Loa's eruption reaches the lava tube, it's all over.
One might ask, why did the military leave these SUPER dangerous storage receptacles in Mauna Loa? The answer is the army couldn't get funding from Congress to move the containers, and couldn't make a public fuss because the receptacles were filled with classified hush-hush pesticides.
For the rest of the book, Mac - along with his crew and the army - maneuver to divert Mauna Loa's red hot lava so it doesn't reach the receptacles. This involves things like blowing holes in the volcano; building walls; building dykes; and so on. All this must be done in five days, and in secret, so the public doesn't panic.
Of course the secret does leak, and a pair of volcano chasers and a narcissistic billionaire businessman descend on Hawaii. This trio thinks THEY should direct the 'rescue operation', and things get complicated and dangerous.
There are some striking scenarios, like people taking helicopters into Mauna Loa (before it erupts) so they can get pictures. The heat and ashes compromise the helicopter's rotors.....and you'll have to read the book to find out what happens next.
Of course there's plenty of death and destruction in the book....can you imagine falling into a lava flow?
The book is formulaic, but it's exciting, with engaging (if somewhat two-dimensional) characters. A movie is in the works already, which will probably be a popular action thriller.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
June 5, 2024
As a die-hard Crichton fan, this book was not it. I could barely finish it.
I do think its partly the choice of author they chose to finish the manuscript. While I haven't read maximum ride or any of his other works, Patterson's style is clearly so distinct from Crichton that it stands out blatantly. Either that, or maybe Crichton had it in drafts for a reason.
I do think this concept could have done better in different hands. Micro did so well, so has the wheel of time books towards the end. Posthumous publications do not have to be this bad. But you really need to work hard on finding someone who works well with the concept and writing that Crichton was known for.
Sadly, this book fails and feels like an amateur prose experiment.
I do think its partly the choice of author they chose to finish the manuscript. While I haven't read maximum ride or any of his other works, Patterson's style is clearly so distinct from Crichton that it stands out blatantly. Either that, or maybe Crichton had it in drafts for a reason.
I do think this concept could have done better in different hands. Micro did so well, so has the wheel of time books towards the end. Posthumous publications do not have to be this bad. But you really need to work hard on finding someone who works well with the concept and writing that Crichton was known for.
Sadly, this book fails and feels like an amateur prose experiment.
October 6, 2024
Not only thrilling and filled with unbelievable suspense, but what I found the most impressive about Eruption was the factual information detailing the longterm devastation a volcano is capable of once it has erupted.
Prior to listening to Eruption I never imagined a tsunami could be any more brutal than the ocean rising hundreds feet in the air and wiping out everything in its path as a result of an earthquake happening deep within its depths. Now I know better. . it can get much, much worse. When a volcano erupts it can cause a tsunami which turns the ocean into a boiling hot cauldron resulting from the lava being spewed into its waters. Cannot even imagine facing this level of horror.
The storyline pulls no punches with the characters. We get an insiders view of just how much loss, suffering, and the far reaching effects a volcanic eruption can cause to humanity in the blink of an eye.
True to form, narrator Scott Brick was beyond spectacular. Highly recommend, not only because it's a phenomenal thriller, but also as an opportunity to learn some well researched scientific facts about volcanos.
Prior to listening to Eruption I never imagined a tsunami could be any more brutal than the ocean rising hundreds feet in the air and wiping out everything in its path as a result of an earthquake happening deep within its depths. Now I know better. . it can get much, much worse. When a volcano erupts it can cause a tsunami which turns the ocean into a boiling hot cauldron resulting from the lava being spewed into its waters. Cannot even imagine facing this level of horror.
The storyline pulls no punches with the characters. We get an insiders view of just how much loss, suffering, and the far reaching effects a volcanic eruption can cause to humanity in the blink of an eye.
True to form, narrator Scott Brick was beyond spectacular. Highly recommend, not only because it's a phenomenal thriller, but also as an opportunity to learn some well researched scientific facts about volcanos.
June 24, 2024
So this is how the world is going to end.
It’s April of 2025, and the Hawaiian volcano of Mauna Loa—the largest active volcano in the world—is going to erupt in five days. But John MacGregor, the Chief Vulcanologist of the Hawaiiian Volcano Observatory, has everyone prepared. The lava flow is not expected to move towards the nearby city of Hilo, so there’s no real danger to life or property expected. That is, until the Army shows up and tells MacGregor that, actually, if the lava flows as expected there are reasons why it will lead to the end of all human life on earth, so could he please stop that outcome? No pressure!
Eruption is billed as a collaboration between Michael Crichton and James Patterson. Of course, Mr. Crichton died in 2008, and his widow keeps finding unpublished manuscripts, outlines, etc. to publish posthumously. It definitely has some classic Crichton hallmarks. The early prologue scene that hints at the danger to come. The theme of minor errors multiplying into major problems. Antagonists who aren’t villainous but are selfish and take actions that push a salvageable situation past the breaking point.
Did Mr. Crichton actually believe the story in Eruption was ready for publication? We’ll never really know. But I can say that isn’t very good. First, there was an explanation for the impending catastrophe, but it was built upon a chain of so many unlikely events that it wasn’t very believable. Second, it also was not convincing that attempting to divert a lava flow—which, of course, borders on the impossible—was the only way to stop the impending catastrophe. I thought of a dozen other options that all seemed more reasonable. Finally, when the eruption finally occurs, and the action really ramps up, the resolution depends a surprising amount on the topography around Mauna Loa. That outcome might be realistic, but it was a letdown and would probably work a lot better on a screen than in a book (or in my case, an audiobook). Disappointing. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
June 16, 2024
Michael Crichton died in 2008 and yet there is another book with his name on it this year 2024. The story is that Crichton was reseaching a story involving a vulcano eruption on Hawaii. Then hé never got to finish it due to mortal issues. And now his widow met Patterson and decided to ask him to finish the work of her husband. Patterson is not direct my favorite author but hé and his writing factory generally hit their mark. This time it is supposed to be the man himself at work in this book. And too be honest the man does a lot for literacy in the US.
Anyhow here is the story: there is a major vulcanic eruption expected on the big Island of Hawaii. Which in itself would be disaster enough however the Island has another secret in a military base which would make the eruption a far larger disaster.
Enter the hero, the military, the token islanders, the press who just want the truth to be out there, the glory Hunter and the mad billionaire and you got the cast of a great thriller and with the short chapters Patterson-style the book is a splendid tale of high adventure.
And yet it is no 5 star book for me, the end left me a little dissatisfied, but that is perhaps me. Mayby the book bypassed the common man fixing itself on the bigger than life leading characters.
Enjoyable nonetheless for anybody wanting some great holiday literature enjoying the beach. Preferable not near a vulcano so Catania in Italia is out.
Sometimes autocorrect messes up reviews and I have to manual correct them, apologies.
Anyhow here is the story: there is a major vulcanic eruption expected on the big Island of Hawaii. Which in itself would be disaster enough however the Island has another secret in a military base which would make the eruption a far larger disaster.
Enter the hero, the military, the token islanders, the press who just want the truth to be out there, the glory Hunter and the mad billionaire and you got the cast of a great thriller and with the short chapters Patterson-style the book is a splendid tale of high adventure.
And yet it is no 5 star book for me, the end left me a little dissatisfied, but that is perhaps me. Mayby the book bypassed the common man fixing itself on the bigger than life leading characters.
Enjoyable nonetheless for anybody wanting some great holiday literature enjoying the beach. Preferable not near a vulcano so Catania in Italia is out.
Sometimes autocorrect messes up reviews and I have to manual correct them, apologies.
June 14, 2024
A very disappointing effort based on notes for a never completed manuscript by Michael Crichton and eventually written by the James Patterson writing factory. The book is obviously written to be a movie--full of heroes and villains and lots of action. However, the characters are not realistic and the plot is ridiculous. It reminded me of a lot of comic books I read as a kid. Two stars instead of one only because it is an edge of your seat story that one has to finish, kind of like eating a whole box of Twinkies. You know it's junk and not good for you, but....
May 9, 2025
Michael Crichton would have never let this book go to print as it was. James Patterson did his “magic” to it, and as a result, it was mid.
June 6, 2024
Why did I spend $15.99 on this? Library. Get it from the library.
April 5, 2025
There’s an active volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii that’s about to blow its top. As bad as that sounds, there may be something even more dangerous that will affect more than just this island if the eruption occurs!
🎧 I listened to the audio and Scott Brick delivered as always.
But there were so many characters to keep track of I kept losing my hold.
This was my first experience reading a book by the late Michael Crichton. Make sure to read the notes at the end on how MC’s widow worked with JP to put this book together after the untimely death of her husband.
🎧 I listened to the audio and Scott Brick delivered as always.
But there were so many characters to keep track of I kept losing my hold.
This was my first experience reading a book by the late Michael Crichton. Make sure to read the notes at the end on how MC’s widow worked with JP to put this book together after the untimely death of her husband.
August 27, 2024
I have read Crichton and really enjoy him. I have read Patterson and just love his writing style of fast paced short chapters which just allows you to read way more than you normally would. I commend Patterson for taking on the challenge of writing a Chricton book. If you don't already know Chricton has passed away some time ago but his widow Sherri knew that he loved the manuscript he was working on for this book now titled Eruption. She approached Patterson with the idea of finishing this project and he agreed. I have read more Patterson books co authored with my favourite author JD Barker then his stand alones and always laugh that in their bio's JD draws a mere few lines while Patterson gets paragraph after paragraph but I grasp why. Kudo's here to Patterson for having Chricton be the front runner. Class!!
So a lot of Chricton fans are really hating on this book. Again two different talent levels, two different styles. Patterson admits to keeping things simple and just telling a story and I think the proof is in the pudding that he does so very well.
This story fascinated me and the science is kept simple but man did I ever learn a lot about volcanoes. The story centres on the Hawaiian volcano Mauna Loa and the fact that it is going to erupt in a huge way. Complicating matters is the fact that stored in the volcano are cannister upon canister of a herbicide that are encased in glass canisters and are almost breaking on their own. Complicating matters is the fact that should their contents leak out and get into the atmosphere what they contain will destroy the world as we know it. It will be extinction. An example of a small leak years earlier sets the stage for the scariness of it all in the prologue.
So in the heart of the story I have issue with this premise. Patterson tries to explain how we got to this point and basically states that doing the right way to dispose of this herbicide was just too costly for the US government so they chose to bury it in a Volcano? Like really? I mean I always give fiction a fair amount of leeway but storing the canisters in a volcano for safe keeping????
So the story all ties in with containing the eruption and directing the lava flow so as to save the townspeople. The extinction threat is kind of secondary and that made the read a good one. The extinction threat is not front and centre nor should it be. Apparently trying to control an eruption is a real tactic in battling volcanoes, using bombs, explosives, trenches and whatever means necessary to try and direct lava flows based on the basis of scientific prediction.
Again I just learned so much about volcanoes while reading this stuff. Did you know that you will not generally drown in lava and that due to its density you simply burn alive while riding down it like a water slide? The gases are discussed and explained as well and there was just so much covered in a straightforward and easy way.
So overall I had a lot of fun while reading this and the subject matter, mainly volcanoes, was just so new to me and in this content so well explained. It really is a pretty good story and a lot like a good thrill adventure story. The characters are a collection of different personalities that really work well together. I thought overall the book was pretty entertaining and a lot of fun. An easy four stars imo and highly recommended!!
So a lot of Chricton fans are really hating on this book. Again two different talent levels, two different styles. Patterson admits to keeping things simple and just telling a story and I think the proof is in the pudding that he does so very well.
This story fascinated me and the science is kept simple but man did I ever learn a lot about volcanoes. The story centres on the Hawaiian volcano Mauna Loa and the fact that it is going to erupt in a huge way. Complicating matters is the fact that stored in the volcano are cannister upon canister of a herbicide that are encased in glass canisters and are almost breaking on their own. Complicating matters is the fact that should their contents leak out and get into the atmosphere what they contain will destroy the world as we know it. It will be extinction. An example of a small leak years earlier sets the stage for the scariness of it all in the prologue.
So in the heart of the story I have issue with this premise. Patterson tries to explain how we got to this point and basically states that doing the right way to dispose of this herbicide was just too costly for the US government so they chose to bury it in a Volcano? Like really? I mean I always give fiction a fair amount of leeway but storing the canisters in a volcano for safe keeping????
So the story all ties in with containing the eruption and directing the lava flow so as to save the townspeople. The extinction threat is kind of secondary and that made the read a good one. The extinction threat is not front and centre nor should it be. Apparently trying to control an eruption is a real tactic in battling volcanoes, using bombs, explosives, trenches and whatever means necessary to try and direct lava flows based on the basis of scientific prediction.
Again I just learned so much about volcanoes while reading this stuff. Did you know that you will not generally drown in lava and that due to its density you simply burn alive while riding down it like a water slide? The gases are discussed and explained as well and there was just so much covered in a straightforward and easy way.
So overall I had a lot of fun while reading this and the subject matter, mainly volcanoes, was just so new to me and in this content so well explained. It really is a pretty good story and a lot like a good thrill adventure story. The characters are a collection of different personalities that really work well together. I thought overall the book was pretty entertaining and a lot of fun. An easy four stars imo and highly recommended!!
June 7, 2024
James Patterson finishing off a manuscript started by Michael Crichton, who doesn’t want to read that. Yes, I am a big James Patterson fan and will read anything he writes but this was just another level. I am seeing a movie in the future with this one, it would be amazing.
Hawaii, a place that so have always wanted to visit… maybe not so much after reading this 😅 Scientists have been monitoring the volcanos and the big one is coming, the biggest one. There is no stopping it, but there is a lot they can do to try to minimise the damage and casualties. Things become even worse when a long held government secret is uncovered and it is all hands on deck. The army, the experts, anybody who knows anything about volcanos is called in.
This is one intense thriller. Do not pick it up and expect to read just a few chapters. It will suck you in. It was scary and emotional. I cannot imagine being in the path of an eruption or being responsible for trying to save people.
Absolutely fantastic as I knew it would be. Thank you so much Penguin Books Australia for my advanced copy to read. An absolute pleasure to read. Published on June 4th.
Hawaii, a place that so have always wanted to visit… maybe not so much after reading this 😅 Scientists have been monitoring the volcanos and the big one is coming, the biggest one. There is no stopping it, but there is a lot they can do to try to minimise the damage and casualties. Things become even worse when a long held government secret is uncovered and it is all hands on deck. The army, the experts, anybody who knows anything about volcanos is called in.
This is one intense thriller. Do not pick it up and expect to read just a few chapters. It will suck you in. It was scary and emotional. I cannot imagine being in the path of an eruption or being responsible for trying to save people.
Absolutely fantastic as I knew it would be. Thank you so much Penguin Books Australia for my advanced copy to read. An absolute pleasure to read. Published on June 4th.
June 1, 2025
This book was released after the death of Michael Crichton. He did the notes for this novel and James Patterson took these notes and went with them. In this one a volcano in Hawaii is about to erupt. This would be too small of a scale if it just affected Hawaii. Nope. It could lead to events that means the end of the world.
I was really hesitant to pick this up. Would I get a smart and entertaining novel that Crichton is known for and I really enjoy? Or is it going to be more drivel by Patterson that I gave up on years ago? I think you can tell by my rating the answer to those questions. This was bad. It was so bad it elicited several groans from me. Nothing worked for me. The characters, the dialogue, and maybe the worst was the resolution. Seriously? We are going with that for the solution when we worked so hard to stop these events. UGH!!! Truthfully I am not even sure if that is the worst because all the character development rubbed me the wrong way including the main character. Talk about a Gary Stu. He knew everything while being an action hero. And he has time to go surfing while the end of the world is looming. Because he can. Other characters were pointless while others were hinted at story lines that we never explored. Throughout this book was filled with tropes and clichés that never worked.
If this book set up to be like a B-movie where the effects and acting were bad I would have been okay with it. I enjoy those every so often. A couple of weeks ago I watched a volcano disaster film called Skyfire. It was good because it knew what it was. Same with the film Volcano from many years ago. It was campy fun of a disaster movie. I believe Patterson wrote this to be a serious action adventure which did not work on so many levels. In my mind there is no way that Crichton would have written this subject in this manner.
I was really hesitant to pick this up. Would I get a smart and entertaining novel that Crichton is known for and I really enjoy? Or is it going to be more drivel by Patterson that I gave up on years ago? I think you can tell by my rating the answer to those questions. This was bad. It was so bad it elicited several groans from me. Nothing worked for me. The characters, the dialogue, and maybe the worst was the resolution. Seriously? We are going with that for the solution when we worked so hard to stop these events. UGH!!! Truthfully I am not even sure if that is the worst because all the character development rubbed me the wrong way including the main character. Talk about a Gary Stu. He knew everything while being an action hero. And he has time to go surfing while the end of the world is looming. Because he can. Other characters were pointless while others were hinted at story lines that we never explored. Throughout this book was filled with tropes and clichés that never worked.
If this book set up to be like a B-movie where the effects and acting were bad I would have been okay with it. I enjoy those every so often. A couple of weeks ago I watched a volcano disaster film called Skyfire. It was good because it knew what it was. Same with the film Volcano from many years ago. It was campy fun of a disaster movie. I believe Patterson wrote this to be a serious action adventure which did not work on so many levels. In my mind there is no way that Crichton would have written this subject in this manner.
March 30, 2025
I generally like Michael Crichton's books (aside from Rising Sun which I probably read 25 years ago and which I recall felt fairly and surprisingly racist/xenophobic). I admired how he'd chosen to write despite having earned an MD (from Harvard, no less). At the same time, I don't love James Patterson. It's weird. I like the shows made out of his books, but I don't really love his books. I also generally am turned off by collaborations. I can think of a handful of authors who successfully have written as partners as one voice (I like Liv Constantine, Greer Hendricks/Sarah Pekkanen, and Jodi Picoult/Samantha Van Leer come to mind).
In this case, it wasn't a partnership. It was one author finishing up the work of another. Like all the writers who tried to continue the Steig Larsson Millenium series, it was a good effort but it wasn't working for me. Like Patterson's other books, it felt like it was written for the screen. I probably would enjoy it on screen. But as a book, I didn't love it. Too much action with very little character development. Also people dying all over the place. Lots of conflict between military and science, and military and journalists - both a bit overdone in book after book and frankly, I find it boring and lazy.
I'm glad Crichton's wife felt that Patterson was the right person to complete her husband's passion project. I hope he would've liked it too. Mostly, I'll cheer when/if it ever comes to screen. Rounding up to 3.
In this case, it wasn't a partnership. It was one author finishing up the work of another. Like all the writers who tried to continue the Steig Larsson Millenium series, it was a good effort but it wasn't working for me. Like Patterson's other books, it felt like it was written for the screen. I probably would enjoy it on screen. But as a book, I didn't love it. Too much action with very little character development. Also people dying all over the place. Lots of conflict between military and science, and military and journalists - both a bit overdone in book after book and frankly, I find it boring and lazy.
I'm glad Crichton's wife felt that Patterson was the right person to complete her husband's passion project. I hope he would've liked it too. Mostly, I'll cheer when/if it ever comes to screen. Rounding up to 3.
June 4, 2024
excruciating
June 6, 2024
Struggled to finish. Shallow writing, cliched to the hilt. A quick scan of reviews tells me I’m in the minority for sure. Not a fan. Maybe will work better as a movie?
June 6, 2024
Shocking waste of time & money!
Crichton's heirs and Patterson collaborated to produce the most shallow book in years. One asuumes a pure money grab on their part, and the publisher too. They should be ashamed.
Crichton's heirs and Patterson collaborated to produce the most shallow book in years. One asuumes a pure money grab on their part, and the publisher too. They should be ashamed.
June 9, 2024
I've NEVER been a fan of James Peterson; I consider him a no-talent hack, and this book proves my point.
B-O-R-I-N-G!!! 🥱
Sorry, Michael, but this volcano book should have remained dormant.
Scott Brick is a GREAT Audible reader, but even his narration could not save this tale.
B-O-R-I-N-G!!! 🥱
Sorry, Michael, but this volcano book should have remained dormant.
Scott Brick is a GREAT Audible reader, but even his narration could not save this tale.
June 10, 2024
Yikes
Really badly written, Michael Crichton would be rolling in his grave. Someone needs to explain how his name was even pasted to this truly awful thing. Do not waste your money on this disaster of a book
Really badly written, Michael Crichton would be rolling in his grave. Someone needs to explain how his name was even pasted to this truly awful thing. Do not waste your money on this disaster of a book
June 9, 2024
It's been years since I read a Michael Crichton book. I read an interview by his wife explaining how this manuscript came to be finished by James Patterson years after his death and was intrigued. I spent a week on the Big Island of Hawaii and hiked Manua Loa and Kilauea and remembered thinking that the power and majesty of nature was just awesome.
I was riveted from page one and had a few sleepless nights due both to the wanting to know what happens and the scare factor of wondering how much of it is real. I do have to admit that I got lost in some of the technical aspects, but I understood enough to be truly terrified.
Manua Loa is making noise like a giant coming out of a decades long sleep. It has been years since Manua Loa last blew and this one is going to be spectacular. That would cause the public some concern, but the experts say the lava flow will be in a desolate area between Manua Loa and Manua Kea, so no harm, no foul, just another beautiful day in paradise. Except the Army has a secret that could wipe out every living thing if the lava flows where expected. The clock is ticking, and you can bet that the team are going to pull off this death-defying mission and save the world - with a lot of tortuous twists and turns, of course. Can you say: "Block Buster Movie Coming Soon"?
I was riveted from page one and had a few sleepless nights due both to the wanting to know what happens and the scare factor of wondering how much of it is real. I do have to admit that I got lost in some of the technical aspects, but I understood enough to be truly terrified.
Manua Loa is making noise like a giant coming out of a decades long sleep. It has been years since Manua Loa last blew and this one is going to be spectacular. That would cause the public some concern, but the experts say the lava flow will be in a desolate area between Manua Loa and Manua Kea, so no harm, no foul, just another beautiful day in paradise. Except the Army has a secret that could wipe out every living thing if the lava flows where expected. The clock is ticking, and you can bet that the team are going to pull off this death-defying mission and save the world - with a lot of tortuous twists and turns, of course. Can you say: "Block Buster Movie Coming Soon"?
June 5, 2024
As it turns out, James Patterson's gifts as a writer -- idiotic characters, horrific dialogue, and plots with twists that charitably appear to have been pulled out of one's hind end -- match up perfectly with those of the disaster film genre. As such, there will certainly be the inevitable movie coming sometime in the next few years... except, didn't they already make this a while back under the title "When Time Ran Out..."?
August 24, 2024
Reading this during a business trip was a special kind of funny because there is something to be said about reading a disaster movie book while flying and examining a mine / plant site. *lol*
I loved Michael Crichton and the way he made actual science work in favor of advancing and/or grounding an action-laden story. So I really grieved when I heard about his untimely death. Naturally, when you love an author and many years later someone claims a manuscript was found and another author is brought in to "finish" it, you get protective. At least I do. In addition, while I haven't read any James Patterson myself yet, I hear a lot of chatter about him (there are even jokes about him in movies for crying out loud) and most of it wasn't too positive.
Since this is about a volcano, I couldn't resist though. As it turns out, I didn't regret giving this a chance.
Everybody knows about Hawai'i's volcanoes. Hence, everybody thinks they also know what the volcanoes are all about; they think they know how unlikely an eruption of at least one of them is; they think they know how to control the lava flows ... But and assumptions can kill.
And then there is a certain Army facility on the big island which is harboring one hell of a dark secret that, if the lava reaches it, can mean the end of humanity and even all life on Earth.
What might sound a little over-the-top makes perfect sense the way Crichton lay it out (according to his widow's statement at the end, he had all the facts and interviews with scientists and plot outline, just not the finished novel yet). There were a few elements I did not care for, such as . However, I liked all the characters (loved to hate many of them), I DEFINITELY loved the setting and plot and I don't have too many complaints about the writing (the pacing was excellent even).
So yes, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone liking disaster stories and fans of Crichton's should not be disappointed either as it had the right "feel" to it IMO.
I loved Michael Crichton and the way he made actual science work in favor of advancing and/or grounding an action-laden story. So I really grieved when I heard about his untimely death. Naturally, when you love an author and many years later someone claims a manuscript was found and another author is brought in to "finish" it, you get protective. At least I do. In addition, while I haven't read any James Patterson myself yet, I hear a lot of chatter about him (there are even jokes about him in movies for crying out loud) and most of it wasn't too positive.
Since this is about a volcano, I couldn't resist though. As it turns out, I didn't regret giving this a chance.
Everybody knows about Hawai'i's volcanoes. Hence, everybody thinks they also know what the volcanoes are all about; they think they know how unlikely an eruption of at least one of them is; they think they know how to control the lava flows ... But and assumptions can kill.
And then there is a certain Army facility on the big island which is harboring one hell of a dark secret that, if the lava reaches it, can mean the end of humanity and even all life on Earth.
What might sound a little over-the-top makes perfect sense the way Crichton lay it out (according to his widow's statement at the end, he had all the facts and interviews with scientists and plot outline, just not the finished novel yet). There were a few elements I did not care for, such as . However, I liked all the characters (loved to hate many of them), I DEFINITELY loved the setting and plot and I don't have too many complaints about the writing (the pacing was excellent even).
So yes, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone liking disaster stories and fans of Crichton's should not be disappointed either as it had the right "feel" to it IMO.
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