I thought I would read this book given that it is ultimately his last. ( Crichton died last month ). This book surprised me because I assumed it to be much better than it was. The return to genetic manipulation (read Jurassic Park) had me convinced this book would blow my mind. The "stars" of this novel are a talking parrot, and a Human-panzee boy. None of the story threads connected until the end, and that was pure coincidence. This wasn't worth its original price, and barely worth what I paid for it at a flea market.