SPHERE by Michael Crichton ⭐⭐⭐⭐

(Original review written June 23, 2019)

Quick generic blurb but accurate: A fast-paced ride to the bottom of the ocean, with plenty of twists and intricacies to keep you on your toes.

I haven't had such a deep feeling of dread while reading in a long time, if ever. The book claims to be mainly a suspenseful science fiction thriller, but it really borders on horror with the amount of times I seriously didn't want to keep reading the next sentence. Honest-to-god near syncope in bed, and leave-the-light-on-to-the-bathroom feels. The terror comes from a very human place of wanting to survive than from a "spooky" vibe, but the fear is there all the same, if not at a deeper level.

This is my first Crichton book and I'm not sure if it was the right place to start, but I'm impressed and intrigued. I loved having a tenured psychologist as the protagonist, trying to use all his powers of intellect to decipher what the hell is going on. It becomes integral to the plot from the beginning, and his insight on each characters' actions keeps your mind turning as well.

When the book turned from sci-fi vibes to the more thriller/horror-y vibes, I did feel like it lost some of its luster and potential. The Sphere itself drives the first 1/3 of the book, for obvious reasons, and then we turn away from it riiiiight when we need to know more about it. I will say I was fairly satisfied with answers by the end, but there's a heavy dose of ambiguity, and I'm realizing I rarely feel my thirst is fully quenched when that happens. Still, it was an undoubtedly fun read I seriously couldn't put down, and I really look forward to more of Crichton's work.