When genetic research and the ensuing commerce run amuck, a plot emerges worthy of a Michael Crichton book. This world-class author pondered mankind's genetic future and then wrote Next (2007, Harper, 547 pages), his last novel to appear before he died prematurely of cancer in 2008.
Crichton's name dwarfs the titles on his techno-thriller tales read by tens of millions. In Next, he uses a familiar technique – relying on a solid understanding of science and its potential to tell a story that's less far-fetched than readers may think. “Welcome to our genetic world. Fast, furious and out of control. This is not the world of the future – it's the world right now.”
Some concepts raise eyebrows extra high. “He returned to the underwater image, fishes moving over the coral reef. ‘In this case,’ he said, ‘signage and adverts are borne by the living creatures themselves, through direct genetic modification of each species. We call this genomic advertising. To capture this new medium, speed is of the utmost importance. There are only a limited number of reef fishes common to tourist waters. Some fish are more incandescent than others. Many are a bit drab. So we want to choose the best. And the genetic modifications will require patenting the marine animal in each case. Thus, we will patent the Cadbury clown fish, the British Petroleum stag coral, the Marks and Spencer moray eel, the Royal Bank of Scotland angelfish, and gliding silently overhead, the British Airways manta ray.’ ”
Simple titles sometimes suffice, but the one word, Next, proves underwhelming for this long, sometimes complex story. Dozens of characters, maybe too many, toil in labs, wield weapons and struggle to survive. Yet the most heroic characters aren't people. They're genetically modified animals: Gerard (a parrot) and Dave (a monkey).
Even without tinkering, the genetic differences between people and monkeys look small. “ ‘Well, if it's certain kinds of ape blood, we can't distinguish it,’ Marty said. ‘Chimps and people, we can't tell the difference. Blood's identical. I remember cops arrested a guy worked in the San Diego zoo, covered in blood. They thought he was a murderer. Turned out to be menstrual blood from a female chimpanzee.’ ”
BioGen, a ruthless research enterprise, takes valuable cells from cancer survivor Frank Burnet and wants to seize more from Frank, his daughter Alex or grandson Jamie. Setbacks deepen the company’s desperation, and it hires a brawny bounty-hunter.
Elsewhere, a drug-addict samples BioGen's maturity gene, ending his substance abuse. Learning of this miracle cure, others clamor for illegal “treatments”. Josh, a researcher, must decide what to do. Will the gene trigger unintended side-effects?
In Crichton's Jurassic Park books, dinosaurs make a menacing comeback. In The Andromeda Strain, a military satellite carries a hazardous extraterrestrial organism. His top titles also include: The Great Train Robbery, Disclosure, Congo, State of Fear and Prey. Compared to some of these novels, Next falls slightly short.
Crichton's books have sold 150 million copies in 30 languages and led to 13 Hollywood movies. By creating ER, a hit TV show about a hospital emergency room, he lit up small screens too.
A medical doctor by training, Crichton used technical knowledge to make his fiction believable. Originally from Chicago, he studied at Harvard and taught at England's Cambridge University.
Not quite “fascinating” or “riveting”, Next earns lesser adjectives like “interesting” and “entertaining”. The great author tells a good story, but this book's no Jurassic Park.
Approval rating: 52 per cent.
For more information: www.harpercollins.com or www.michaelcrichton.net
(June 2, 2009)
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