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After exploring the possibility of paying a visit to past historical events in Timeline, Michael Crichton returns with another tale of science gone mad in his latest novel simply titled, Prey. Modern technology continues to expand in unimaginable ways with electronic devices getting smaller and smaller. Lately, scientists have been working hard designing miniature robots, the size of water molecules, for medical research and military applications. They are meant to work independent of each other or act as a hive collective, where they share their information to one central unit, computer or handler. Now, what if the nanoprobes had gone rogue? What if their programming have been radically altered? Crichton looks into that possibility by creating a nightmare scenario where manís good intentions go terribly wrong. Jack Forman is an unemployed computer programmer enjoying his role as Mr. Mom to his three kids. His wife is vice president of Xymos Technologies, developing a system of nanoprobes for the use of medical imaging. For the last two weeks, Julie has been acting rather peculiar around her husband leading him to suspect that she might be having an affair with one of the scientists. Things have gotten even stranger at home with electronic devices malfunctioning at home and their nine-month-old daughter developing an unusual rash that covers her entire body and begins to mystify doctors. The baby recuperates but Jackís unease still lingers. When his wife gets injured in a suspicious car accident, her behavior towards her doctors worsen leading Jack to believe that something sinister is going on at the Nevada facility. When he gets offered a two-day consultancy job at Xymos he readily accepts believing that he can get to the bottom of things. Little did he know that he holds the key to save the world. Crichtonís novel performs its pedagogical duty by trying to explain the science and technology in the storyís situations. It is the plot that suffers. The main characters lives are settled in such a way that they can make time out of their busy schedule to get to work at the situation in hand. Portions of the book are reminiscent of ë80s slasher movies where the role of a character is to face a gruesome fate. All the non-essential scientists at the top secret lab will be disposed of in unusual ways so that only the important people get to do what needs to be done. Finally, the biggest problem this book has is that it shares too much with a television show: Star Trek: The Next Generation. In that program there is an alien race known as the Borg whose sole purpose in life is to say, ëPrepare to be assimilated. Resistance is futile.í It is probably unintentional, but science fiction fans may pick up on it as they read the book. If you have read previous Michael Crichton novels, you will get your moneyís worth with this book. The action and suspense is clearly present in the story even though it occurs late in the game. If you are waiting for the movie version, keep waiting. The way the book is constructed, it will probably end up as a television movie on Fox or the Sci Fi Channel. It would not be a surprise. Now, if you are looking for fun while reading a Michael Crichton book, try Timeline. Now that book is entertainment, no other Crichton book comes close.
Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, April 2003
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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