Worthy sequel

Brilliant, gripping story that follows closely in the footsteps on the first novel but with more action and better representation for a modern audience. If you enjoyed the Andromeda strain, you'll enjoy the evolution too.

Fantastic performance from Julia Whelan, very easy listening.

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Decent Sequel

Personally liked the way it followed on from the previous book, and left ideas for continuation of the storyline if the authors decide to.

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Weaker than the original

I listened to this back to back with the Andromeda Strain. AS was sharp, thrilling and surprising in places. AE on the other hand is more formulaic - dare I say written like a film as opposed to the more nuanced original.

It's perfectly fine.

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Amazingly performed

It was a great listen, there are some slightly over complicated moments, but I always feel like that’s for us as listen to be more believing in how smart some people in their positions are. Really wish there was a sequel, leaves me wanting to know what’s next!

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Amazing adventure

In a bit of a reverse of MC’s usual MO: the beginning suspense is the weakest part of the story. It is the ending, action packed and full of well placed plot-payoff that grips you. Strong recommend.

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1 person found this helpful

Great drama

Bloody loved it, just a really good read, loads of drama, great pacing. Apologies, I'm not a professional critic, obviously. I'm speaking from the heart, based on my listening experience.

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2 people found this helpful

A Second Opportunity Missed!

I came late to the original book having loved the film when younger but after being gripped by the opening to 'The Andromeda Strain' felt that it was an opportunity missed as technicality strangled all of the tension out of the book. I said that I wondered if Crichton ever felt as if he should revisit it but sadly whether he wanted to or not we'll never know now.

Anyway, up steps Daniel H. Wilson with an attempt to take that opportunity and although he writes a reasonable tale it sill doesn't feel like the atmospheric tension of that opening scene from all those decades ago will ever be realised. This book follows a group of scientists into the Amazonian Jungle as they are flown in to investigate a strange anomaly. In fairness it does develop into a fast-moving story and there is great action at the end but despite all the pseudo-science and weighty sounding quotes and reports it does get a touch fanciful with characters, even running, out of breath and pushed to the limits still manage to give emotional speeches to their comrades. And logistics get totally ignored in the main setup of the story.

In essence I did enjoy it, Whelan narrates well with enough voices to separate the characters and the story both retains a lot of the elements of Crichton's writing style and crucially moves the story of the Andromeda Strain on considerably. I suspect a lot of people will get more out of it than I did but in the end it just never delivered on that promise of the opening scenes from all those years ago. I never again felt that supremely chill dread and so to me it's again something of an opportunity missed.

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6 people found this helpful

Not as good as the original but a good listen

The original was a hard act to follow, and this one aimed but I don’t feel it quite made it. Relies on megalomaniac scientist plotting in secret trope. Some good twists though - I won’t spoil it for anyone who chooses to listen. It also offers a lot of potential avenues for further reflection, though I think a follow up will be vary hard. My real bugbear was that the US is assumed to own something built in Brazil by someone in secret and without permission. No justification given as to why Brazil wouldn’t at least claim ownership, given how valuable it seems.

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Ok, but flawed

I read the original novel Andromeda Strain when it first came out, and have been a fan of Crichton's work for many years. When I saw this sequel I was surprised and felt rather doubtful about how it would compare. The story is quite good and starts very well, but it has several flaws that I am sure Crichton would never have made, for example accelerating the ISS to reach geostationary orbit. (ISS velocity is 7.9kps, geostationary objects are at approx 3kps, it actually would need to slow down). The flaws I found to be an irritation. The performer gives a rather dry, clinical narration which in the context of the story rather worked for me. I am not a fan of books where a dead author's name appears in big bold letters and "written by..." appears in fine print below the title, this audiobook, whilst not bad, did not change my opinion.

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be better

not as good as first book but a decent continuation. it tried to do too much too quickly

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