Next

By: Michael Crichton

Narrated by: Dylan Baker

Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Is a loved one missing some body parts? Are blondes becoming extinct? Is everyone at your dinner table of the same species? Humans and chimpanzees differ in only 400 genes; is that why an adult human being resembles a chimp fetus? And should that worry us? There's a new genetic cure for drug addiction - is it worse than the disease?

We live in a time of momentous scientific leaps; a time when it's possible to sell our eggs and sperm online for thousands of dollars or test our spouses for genetic maladies. We live in a time when one fifth of all our genes are owned by someone else, and an unsuspecting person and his family can be pursued cross-country because they happen to have certain valuable genes within their chromosomes.

Devilishly clever, Next blends fact and fiction into a breathless tale of a new world where nothing is what it seems, and a set of new possibilities can open at every turn. Next challenges our sense of reality and notions of morality. Balancing the comic and bizarre with the genuinely frightening and disturbing, Next shatters our assumptions and reveals shocking new choices where we least expect.

The future is closer than you think. Get used to it.

What's next:

The abridged version of Next,

the free interview with Michael Crichton, and

an exclusive sneak preview of Next.

Take your pick.

©2006 Michael Crichton (P)2006 HarperCollins Publishers

An outdated romp

A book club challenge: to read books we bought many years ago and clear the shelves. Some hold up better than others, and Next is not one that does. This is basically a collection of vignettes that illustrate the author’s fears of the future of genetics. It then proceeds to a slapshod finale that pulls many of the vignettes together. Meanwhile, it hypes and sows fear and addresses the implant size of any female character that is childless.

To the audio end, it also is outdated. It gets that the book is meant to be titillating by inserting odd sci fi music at intervals. But it otherwise runs the whole thing together. No chapter announcements, barely a breath between chapters or chapter breaks, which makes it hard to understand what’s going on at times. Really corny voices that make every mom whiny and every nerd a weasel.

Very Disappointed

How is this the #1 book on audible? Usually that is the best stat I can go with. I could not even finish this book.

I tried to look past the technical aspects with the beginning legal stuff, but could not get by the description of the "jury gasping" during trial and then finding out about the "judges ruling" deciding who won the case, huh?

Not so good

A series of interconnecting -- sort of -- stories that are somewhere between unconvincing and far fetched. A half human half chimp named Dave? An intelligent talking African Grey parrot? Come on. The author obviously had an axe or two to grind regarding views on the ethical intricacies of biotechnology, the bio-tech industry and American patent legislation. I guess the question is does that form the basis of a half-decent page-turner? For me -- not so much.

Didn't Care

I don't usually write a review, but this book really disappointed me. i was 3/4 the way through the book and didn't care what was going to happen and who it was going to effect. the only reason i finished is cause i have to finish the story. But i wife didn't she just asked me what happened.

not for me

The technology angle convinced me to by this book but I found it obscene and inane and I stopped about halfway thru

Difficult Listen

No real storyline...just random examples of science breakthroughs and their ability to be abused by mankind. Author tied these random examples together loosely to make his point.

Extremely disappointing

Save your credit! I am a Michael Crichton fan, so I bought it in spite of the overwhelming number of negative reviews. I should have paid heed.

This is the single most disappointing book by Crichton that I have read or listened to. It seemed very random, like he wrote without ever turning back to see what had already been written. Not much plot, just a lot of personal opinion.

Hmmmm, how long would it take for an infinite number of transgenic monkeys to come up with something better?

Too Confusing

Tried to begin this book 3 times each time I became bored with technobabble, and I generally like technobabble. But this had no attraction. Sorry Mr. Crichton, try again.

Meandering

Michael Chricton is usually enjoyable listening, escpecially for driving, as it's exciting,and doesn't require a whole of attention or investment. This book however, tended to meander through the story, and the characters are not especially intriguing or interesting. The whole genetic issue is just sensationalized. Maybe it's a better read than a listen?

Not worth the time

Although Crichton has interesting observations about genetic research the plot is silly and tedious.