What Are You Reading?

[morgan]

I had to get out my copy.

Spoiler

Helen doesn't know what happened, that the fungus is now airborne. She was unconscious when Melanie explained it to Parks. She was dousing herself with antifungal gel after the airlock door opened, trusting that to protect her. Naturally, she also wears a hazmat suit at the very end, as she's teaching the kids, not realizing that it's in vain.

Thank you for going through the trouble of getting out your copy and rereading the end just to answer my question.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Is Dark Rivers Of The Heart a collection of stories? If so, it's got some great ones in there. Or maybe I'm thinking of Strange Highways.....

...single book, but hold onto your boxers....it has an intelligent dog in it!!!!....

 

[Kurben]

I have gone back in time a bit.... I'm reading The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. Written in -69 i think but its new to me. Hadn't read this one by him before.

 

[kingricefan]

I have gone back in time a bit.... I'm reading The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. Written in -69 i think but its new to me. Hadn't read this one by him before.

This is the first 'official' novel that he wrote under his real name. There were numerous ones before this but he used non-de-plumes for all of those. Some parts of Andromeda might be outdated but it's still a fantastic read. Enjoy!

 

[GNTLGNT]

This is the first 'official' novel that he wrote under his real name. There were numerous ones before this but he used non-de-plumes for all of those. Some parts of Andromeda might be outdated but it's still a fantastic read. Enjoy!

...I found it as a kid...stowed away in my dad's bedside reading pile....man, that was a cool experience to discover this style of fiction....

 

[kingricefan]

...I found it as a kid...stowed away in my dad's bedside reading pile....man, that was a cool experience to discover this style of fiction....

I learned many things while reading Crichton's novels, just like when I read a John Grisham book. Crichton's novels were always something to look forward to- there's only been a couple that I was like 'Meh.' That can be said of pretty much any author who has written many books, though. I'm not understanding where this new dinosaur novel came from though. I've looked at a copy of it and nowhere does it say anything like 'Found in his notes or files' like it did in 'Pirate Latitudes'. Nor does it say 'written in the style of' or 'written with the blessings of the Crichton Estate', etc. like it does on those VC Andrews books. Does anyone know if this has been ghost written?

 

[morgan]

I learned many things while reading Crichton's novels, just like when I read a John Grisham book. Crichton's novels were always something to look forward to- there's only been a couple that I was like 'Meh.' That can be said of pretty much any author who has written many books, though. I'm not understanding where this new dinosaur novel came from though. I've looked at a copy of it and nowhere does it say anything like 'Found in his notes or files' like it did in 'Pirate Latitudes'. Nor does it say 'written in the style of' or 'written with the blessings of the Crichton Estate', etc. like it does on those VC Andrews books. Does anyone know if this has been ghost written?

Are you referring to Dragon Teeth? I read this..."His wife, Sherri Crichton, came across the completed manuscript in his files, and it now is being made available to the reading public."

 

[recitador]

I learned many things while reading Crichton's novels, just like when I read a John Grisham book. Crichton's novels were always something to look forward to- there's only been a couple that I was like 'Meh.' That can be said of pretty much any author who has written many books, though. I'm not understanding where this new dinosaur novel came from though. I've looked at a copy of it and nowhere does it say anything like 'Found in his notes or files' like it did in 'Pirate Latitudes'. Nor does it say 'written in the style of' or 'written with the blessings of the Crichton Estate', etc. like it does on those VC Andrews books. Does anyone know if this has been ghost written?

it is apparently an unpublished novel he had stored away. 3 so far, only one of which needed finishing by another author i guess?

New Michael Crichton Novel Set for 2017 | Hollywood Reporter

 

[morgan]

it is apparently an unpublished novel he had stored away. 3 so far, only one of which needed finishing by another author i guess?

New Michael Crichton Novel Set for 2017 | Hollywood Reporter

I also read that it was considered "unfinished." I have mixed feelings about them publishing something he obviously wasn't done with - if he was happy with it as-is, he wouldn't leave it in his files. Just my opinion.

 

[recitador]

I also read that it was considered "unfinished." I have mixed feelings about them publishing something he obviously wasn't done with - if he was happy with it as-is, he wouldn't leave it in his files. Just my opinion.

i don't mind them finishing and publishing works from deceased authors. it allows us to enjoy new stories from them after they're gone. they've got several popular authors who have passed away who have other authors who have even carried on their characters into new novels, which is a good way to get new authors exposure while also providing something for the fans who loved those authors and their work and characters. and it's not in a low quality james patterson way either.

 

[morgan]

i don't mind them finishing and publishing works from deceased authors. it allows us to enjoy new stories from them after they're gone. they've got several popular authors who have passed away who have other authors who have even carried on their characters into new novels, which is a good way to get new authors exposure while also providing something for the fans who loved those authors and their work and characters. and it's not in a low quality james patterson way either.

Maybe they should've brought in another writer on Dragon Tears as well. That way, both authors get credit and/or criticism. I haven't read it, but saw some less than stellar reviews.

 

[skimom2]

Thank you for going through the trouble of getting out your copy and rereading the end just to answer my question.

Heck, no biggie. You know there isn't much I love more than a good book!

 

[recitador]

Maybe they should've brought in another writer on Dragon Tears as well. That way, both authors get credit and/or criticism. I haven't read it, but saw some less than stellar reviews.

yeah if they just published it as is and it was kind of weak and that's why he didn't submit it, i'd agree. i was thinking more along the lines of mike in bag of bones and his "trunk novels"

 

[skimom2]

I also read that it was considered "unfinished." I have mixed feelings about them publishing something he obviously wasn't done with - if he was happy with it as-is, he wouldn't leave it in his files. Just my opinion.

I agree with you, Morgan. Unless it's a 'trunk novel' that the author had publish-ready and was just hanging on to it so as not to flood the market, or maybe a late draft that just needed copyediting, the manuscript should stay private. If they wanted it published, it would have been published.

 

[kingricefan]

Are you referring to Dragon Teeth? I read this..."His wife, Sherri Crichton, came across the completed manuscript in his files, and it now is being made available to the reading public."

Thanks for this, Morgan. I just think it's strange that there's nothing on the book jacket or a short note inside of the book explaining where this book came from. I hope they (the Crichton Estate) don't go the way of the VC Andrews books and get ghost writers to do books 'in the same vein' as Crichton books. He had his own distinctive voice in his books and it should stay that way. Ironically, before the world knew he was writing under the name 'John Lange', the paperback Lange books had these quotes on some of them such as: 'A pulse-pounding novel with all the raw tension of The Andromeda Strain and The Terminal Man' and 'A high-tension novel with the same shattering suspense as The Andromeda Strain and The Terminal Man'.

 

[kingricefan]

I just finished reading The Silk Worm by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling). Unlike the first 'Galbraith' novel, I didn't figure out who the killer was until it was revealed. Good job!

 

[skimom2]

The Quiet Child, for review. So far, so good.

 

[skimom2]

I just finished reading The Silk Worm by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling). Unlike the first 'Galbraith' novel, I didn't figure out who the killer was until it was revealed. Good job!

I've enjoyed all the Galbraith books

 

[recitador]

I've enjoyed all the Galbraith books

interesting, i've heard somewhat negative things about them elsewhere.

 

[skimom2]

interesting, i've heard somewhat negative things about them elsewhere.

Can't imagine what. They're quite well-written. Strike is an interesting, multi-layered protagonist, the pacing and dialogue are cracking, and the mysteries are actual mysteries. I'm not much of a mystery fan, but these kept me engaged throughout the book and actually surprised me at the end without stupid 'twists' that are unsupported by the narrative (a big problem with modern mysteries and crime fiction).

Sometimes I think these criticisms come from a healthy dose of envy toward a successful writer, a need to 'take them down a peg'. Rowling's early Potter books are certainly weaker than her later books, but as she polished her craft her tremendous skills at characterization and pacing are undeniable. I personally really disliked The Casual Vacancy, but that was a matter of taste (I'm tremendously bored by 'well-off white people behaving badly and full of ennui' books) not the author's talent.

Still, to each his own There are plenty of bookfish in the literary sea, enough for anyone's taste.