The Andromeda Strain

By Michael Crichton

After a brief hiatus in reading, this morning I finished The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. Published in 1969, this techno-thriller was the first novel ever written under his own name, establishing Crichton as a bestselling author in the science fiction genre. And while the technology and science behind it are outdated in comparison to the modern world, the importance of this novel still holds true.

The Andromeda Strain is simply about the self-destructive nature of the human race, especially in the scientific community. Starting with the destruction of a small town and dozens of people and building into a firestorm of a climax, Crichton succeeds in gripping his readers with the intrigue of extraterrestrial intelligence.

From the opening chapter, he begs us to ask the big questions of the universe and scientific advancement. How far is too far? And what ultimately happens when we try to control the uncontrollable? While asking the questions early on, he eventually leads us to the answers with a truly wonderful climax.

But this is not without our writer facing challenges along the way.

As the first novel of its kind for Crichton (he had previously written techno crime thrillers under the pseudonym John Lange), it felt as if he were still trying to figure out how to make his concept work at the time of its publication. While Crichton succeeds in blending in more than enough background and thematic passages, where he falters with The Andromeda Strain is the actual action that makes each scene work.

There were a few times throughout reading that the phrase “in seconds” was used to characterize the speed of technology, while the characters’ actions were limited to thought explorations. Though these questions and explanations were always interesting, it made the effect of the scenes come off plastic rather than fully developed. Some scenes actually lagged because they were almost completely thought journeys.

In retrospect, I imagine this is why Crichton’s later works had more of a balance between interiority and action. Focusing more on the scenario unfolding to reveal the theme rather than deductive reasoning bringing the reader to the writer’s ultimate conclusions. It’s difficult for a reader to be engaged if the workings of the actual plot are limited.

That being said, where Crichton succeeds in demonstrating his promise as the science fiction genius he becomes is in his climax where all hell breaks loose. Although brief and spanning only about ten pages, it succeeds in carrying the rest of the novel in such a way that it finishes strong. Bringing the reader to a very pointed (albeit brief) resolution that sticks with them like radioactivity. For a first novel of its kind, I would say it’s successful in standing alone.

And I would say that makes The Andromeda Strain such a fascinating read—the study not only of enormous questions like, “How far is too far” and, “Where are we going if continue” but the study of the structure. Of how all the pieces of fiction must specifically interact so that they may support a story. Or else it will cave-in on itself.

I’d recommend this book to anyone looking to see how science fiction can be written and to whomever is interested in examining how story works.