Next by Michael Crichton (2006, Unabridged, Compact Disc)

NEXT definitely has some key Crichton elements. The high attention to detail, the intensely researched science and the "Next" generation setting slightly ahead of present day. All topped off with the ominous forecast of deadly consequences arising from the world's modern day folly.

This book just goes in too many directions, tries too many different theories. Crichton's story's are often out there, but NEXT just goes off the deep end. A few of the lead characters aren't likeable either. I couldn't get emotionally attached to a Parrot or a half human half-monkey child. We are indeed supposed to have sympathy with their plight but unfortunately they burst onto the scene and leave the story just as fast.

The book is simply annoying in various ways too, such as the news reports announcing the latest gene discoveries and their equally fantastic consequences. One annoyance was the legal issues and ironies of gene science. Imagine bounty hunters chasing down a woman and her kid because they possess her father's genes that some court determined weren't his.

Anyway this book wasn't quite as preachy as some of Crichton's other endeavors but the scattered and underdeveloped plots and characters simply took the punch out of it.

Another great book by Crichton, taking genetics up in a classic debate that only Crichton does so well. An even mix of reality and fiction makes this story believeable and engrossing.

Wonderfully insightful and scary! I totally believed that this could and is happening today in our culture. Does someone really own a patent on the DNA in my body? Can they come than claim it or reposess it at anytime? Gave me a ton to think about.

I know it is a novel but many of the facts are real. It is a frightening thought that this is really happening and universities and Corporations can own genes.

The book is well written and the reading is fast.

Michael Crichton is one of my favorite authors. (Really sorry that he died) We have read all of his books, including NEXT. We were taking a long trip by car and decided to get an audio book. This was the first one that we every bought. What fun! It really passed the time. I would recommend travelling and listening to anyone.

This book got me all the way to Miami. Arived on time. It made 1400 miles fly by wished I would have had one for the return trip. Thank you

Holy mackerel, this is by far the worst Michael Crichton book I've ever read, and his books are getting bad. He's always been incredibly pedantic and patronizing, but at least books like Jurassic Park and even Sphere were written well enough to provide a modicum of plausibility. This book just feels like a platform for Crichton to spin some parables illustrating his own feelings around genetic engineering (which he proves by describing his opinions in an addendum to the book.) I wouldn't bother with this one if I were you.

Entertaining in a forced calculated plot, with good character development and interactions that smack of a bit too much coincident, to tell more would be a spoiler. It was entertaining and you end up rooting for the characters.
Good but a little like preprocessed food, taste good but you know there is better out there.

The subject is very important and the advisory WARNING make this more than a story but "A LESSON THAT SHOWS WE ARE HEADED INTO REAL TROUBLE....."