In this predecessor to JURASSIC PARK, Crichton shows that he knows what blueprint he wants to use but doesn't yet know how to use it effectively. He gives us a group of people trapped underwater with what may be a spaceship and some strange monsters and goings-on. The source of the bizarre phenomena turns out to be something with very serious ramifications. Unfortunately, they didn't interest the author so instead of a potentially fascinating exploration of imagination, human nature, and power, we wind up with a rather pedestrian adventure. The Newsweek remark about Crichton's writing being cinematic is ironically accurate: the author clearly envisioned this story as a movie when he wrote it. From the premise to the countdown-to-the-big-explosion climax to the paint-by-numbers horror movie ending, SPHERE screams Hollywood popcorn fare in the worst way. If you're looking for inspired science fiction, pass on this book and have a look at Isaac Asimov's robot stories or Frank Herbert's DUNE.