Sphere  (English, Paperback, Crichton Michael)

Michael Crichton’s Sphere is a suspense novel whose events transpire on the bed of the Pacific Ocean. A group of specialists are brought in to investigate a spacecraft, and their investigations lead them to eerie conclusions.

Summary Of Sphere

An astounding discovery of what is thought to be an alien spacecraft on the ocean floor, prompts the U.S. Government to send down a team of scientists to carry out an investigation. When the group, along with psychologist Norman Johnson, is dispatched to an underwater habitat, they discover that the vessel is an American spacecraft built in the future and sent 350 years back in time.

On investigating the spacecraft further, they discover an enigmatic sphere that ultimately becomes the core of an entire series of fatal events. Suspense rises when the alien sphere begins to communicate with them, calling itself ‘Jerry’. As imaginary manifestations turn to reality and their number starts to dwindle, the solution to all their predicaments lies in the codes that the Sphere transmits to them. As the story slowly unfolds, Norman tries hard to uncover the true identity of Jerry, and find out the reason behind the underwater horrors that they have been facing.

Norman is the most predominant character in the book, since the story fixes on his perception of the events. The other characters are Elizabeth Halpern (Biologist), Harry Adams (Mathematician), and Theodore Fielding (Astrophysicist).

Michael Crichton’s Sphere, initially published in 1987, is essentially a science fiction novel that harbors on psychological suspense. The book received widely positive reviews and was made into a film in the year 1998.

About Michael Crichton

Chicago-born Michael Crichton was an author, producer, director, and screenwriter who chiefly wrote novels of the science fiction genre. He achieved the unique distinction of having a #1 movie (Jurassic Park), a #1 TV show (ER) and a #1 book (Disclosure) to his name, simultaneously.

Some of his most popular works are Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, Congo, The Lost World, State Of Fear, Airframe, and Disclosure. Some of his non-fiction books are Five Patients, Jasper Johns, and Electronic Life. He has sold over 200 million books and thirteen of his novels were made into films.

Crichton was a thinker, a philosopher, and a novelist and managed to break down profound medical and scientific theories into simpler terms to include them in his various plots. His books were generally fast-paced and climatic, using clear and simple prose.

Born on October 23, 1942, John Michael Crichton was raised with his three siblings on Long Island. After majoring in Biological Anthropology at Harvard College, Michael enrolled at Harvard Medical School and began publishing his novels under pen names. Michael had five marriages and two children. His private battle with throat cancer was disclosed to the world only after his demise on November 4, 2008. He was the creator and executive producer of the famous television drama, ER.