Michael Crichton has one overarching theme in most of his books, and it’s an important lesson for us humans to learn: humanity should take cautious, measured steps before we invade any new areas of nature.
In this book, as in the Jurassic Park series, the beginning of the story describes a logical fortress of policies, protective measures, defensive systems, and competent scientists. The reader is led to trust that the icky, dangerous parts of nature that our protagonists will be violating will be safely contained, and any threat they pose nullified.
Later in the book, Mr. Crichton then shows how nature goes about dismantling the arrogant humans’ expectations and running rampant in our domain.
The Andromeda Strain is based on a factual assemblage of recommendations made to the US government and space program directors. The names of the characters mirror names of actual scientists who proposed research and preventative programs to protect against accidental contamination by a spaceborne germ, and ways to study their alien qualities to learn more about the sterilization of space travel. The book contains a bibliography of the research involved, so that, if the reader gets very interested in the book’s premise, they can read more about the facts behind the fiction.
Finally, on Mr. Crichton’s writing style itself: as always, his book is gripping, educational, and a fast-read. Ever lurking in the shadows, Bad Luck, Bad Timing, and Bad Idea Gone Wrong are like tangible antagonists to his heroes, throwing their mundane monkey wrenches into the muck, and fouling the plans of these otherwise fantastic exploits. The heroes themselves are nothing if not human; indeed, Mr. Crichton seems to view his calling as the exposition of human vulnerability in the face of our ever-growing expansion into the realms of the better-left-unknown.