book data
4027 ratings, 3.23 average rating, 108 reviews
(more data...)
edit
published
November 23rd 1992
by Ballantine Books
binding
Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages
isbn
0345380371
(isbn13: 9780345380371)
description
During the grand opening celebration of the new American headquarters of an immense Japanese conglomerate, the dead body of a beautiful woman is found...more
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 4479)
All ratings
|
5 stars (380)
|
4 stars (1137)
|
3 stars (1644)
|
2 stars (673)
|
1 star (162)
|
avg 3.23
Read in January, 1993
Back in the early 1990's there was a bit of a movie craze involving adaptations of recently published bestsellers. At the heart of this craze was a volley between two particular authors, Michael Crichton and John Grisham.
Although I hadn't yet reached my teens, I was ,nonetheless, caught up in the multimedia whirlwind. While my peers were transfixed by the fantastic nature of Jurassic Park, I opted for the realistic criminal drama of Rising Sun.
The book is fine, with a flow...more
Although I hadn't yet reached my teens, I was ,nonetheless, caught up in the multimedia whirlwind. While my peers were transfixed by the fantastic nature of Jurassic Park, I opted for the realistic criminal drama of Rising Sun.
The book is fine, with a flow...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I read this novel when I was a teenager and I remember it being very political rather than scientific or action-packed. Much like how Jurassic Park differed so much from the movie. In the book, there were entire chapters dedicated to explaining the political nature of certain corporations and at that age it did not interest me. I would like to revisit these novels as an adult to see if my attention span has lenthened and am more in tune to issues discussed in these books.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
I enjoy Michael Crichton's fiction. He is a good storyteller. I read this book as a followup to Airframe, a more recent book. Both books deal with and amplify Crichton's position that US national policy does not adequately protect our nation's intellectual property. Rising Sun was written in 1992 and uses a fast-paced murder investigation as a soapbox for Crichton to dispense his position.
Reading this book, I would say that Crichton has a strong respect for the Japanese business mind. ...more
Reading this book, I would say that Crichton has a strong respect for the Japanese business mind. ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Detective Peter Smith took a job and a pay raise to work as a liaison in the Special Services division of the LAPD thinking it would be a cake ride. Once in a while, he needs to show up and play interpreter for Japanese nationals who run a little afoul of the law: speeding tickets, the occasional drunken disorderly charge, etc. However, after the body of a young white woman is found dead in the boardroom at the Nakamoto Towers during the grand opening celebration, he finds himself in over his he...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1995
I don't really remember when I read this, sometime in the 90's. I was into "easy read" bestsellers at the time, like Grisham, and I think I bought this at the used bookstore on Park Road in West Hartford.
I ended up really liking this book at the time because I was in high school and it was kind of dirty. Basically, a black cop inexperienced with the Japanese and an older white cop with a lot of experience, run around L.A. trying to solve the murder of some lady.
Eventually I had...more
I ended up really liking this book at the time because I was in high school and it was kind of dirty. Basically, a black cop inexperienced with the Japanese and an older white cop with a lot of experience, run around L.A. trying to solve the murder of some lady.
Eventually I had...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
I wish I was a reader back in the early 90's. This would have been a lot more interesting, I think. It's the typical dooms-day scenario that Crichton loves to preach. Japan is taking over America, not via warfare but by hostile take-over type business tactics that are a way of life in Japan, but aren't politically correct here. Anyway, 15 years later and it doesn't seem much different then how he describes it. Japan has business interests here, but not to the extent that Crichton was predict...more
A great book. A very accurate protrayal of the Japanese culture and mindset. The book is an interesting look at the American view and response to the Japanese culture excerting its influence here in America. I thought one of the most interesting effects of the book was the lack of protest by the Japanese culture to the book, but an enormous hue and cry about the movie. But the movie was tremendously watered down and cleaned up for political correctness.
If you want a clear look into the...more
If you want a clear look into the...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I have loved every Michael Crichton book I've ever read, except this one. The murder mystery aspect of it was fun, but it was so full of bad language and other such lovely garbage that I don't think I'll ever read it again. I guess there's a reason I'd never heard of it until I saw it on a shelf at DI. The story and suspense are not nearly as compelling as his other books. It's mostly a diatribe about how Japan is better than the US, and Americans are stupid for not realizing it. I don't recomme...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I read this when I was 12. I liked it back then but it was kinda over my head at that time
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Just heard that Michael Crichton passed away after a private battle with cancer. He's best known for Jurassic Park (actually I LOVE the Jurassic Park ride at Universal Studios), but my favorite Crichton book (not movie) is Rising Sun. I'm more of a mystery/thriller person than a science person, and this book had all the elements of a satisfying fast read. It's unfortunate he wasn't able to see the end of his ER series in its last season, but he leaves a lot of his words behind and according to S...more
Like this review?
yes
2 comments
Read in January, 1993
I read this in the 1990s sometime, and it struck me as total paranoia about Japan taking over the world. It's interesting to look back on it now, given what has happened to the Japanese economy. No one is talking about Japan taking over any more, or the trade deficit with Japan, etc. It's my personal belief that Japan will fail to be a real superpower to be reckoned with until they actually give equal opportunity to their women! If they took full advantage of their potential female workforce, lo...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2006
Rising Sun read like a good action movie - entertaining, but nothing earth-shattering. I was engaged cover to cover, but it was a little predictable.
In all fairness, though, I was reading it about 15 years to late. Character names like "Fast Eddy" and plots based on Japanese business tycoons and industrial spies probably seemed more edgy than cheesy back in the early 90s (published in '93).
I feel similarly about Dan Brown and Michael Crighton books. Simply good fun, someti...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2004
Another gripping novel by Michael Crichton -- at least, gripping for a high school mind. I think I read it when I was at the height of my Crichton craze, though I think I picked this novel because it was one of the shorter Crichton tomes. I'm pretty sure I borrowed this from the library and was both shocked and titillated by the descriptions of abnormal sex practices. Oh, high school days. (Populist fic; 300 pages)
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
the relatively graphic sex scenes in the movie peaked my interest in this book. I already like M.C. but did not know much about the book. I think I remember my mom being concerned about letting me buy it because she saw the movie too. Eventually I got to read it and satisfy my curious teenage mind.
Good book, but hurt by my comparison to his other books.
Good book, but hurt by my comparison to his other books.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
i don't really remember the storyline, but i remember that i liked it. something about japanese and american businesses, and the maybe-murder (or kinky sex gone wrong) of a woman. i think there were lots of twists and turns. there was a lot of suspense, and i don't usually like suspense/mystery books. but i do remember that i read this in 2 or 3 days...
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Good book, terrible movie. Sean Connery was horribly miscast as the protagonist. Every time I hear or think about this book I recall Connery saying,''I am very, very okotta!'' (Meaning he was very angry.) Connery's Japanese was so bad that I couldn't take him seriously as a character who had supposedly mastered the language.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This is a decent book, as well as Crichton goes. He's better off when dealing with science not economics, because despite all his warnings, Japan does not control us, despite what he would like to think. That said, there is some true and interesting stuff here ,and the story is pretty good, just not as tight as usual.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1992
I do like many of Michael Crichton’s books. This one was just ok; it may be my least favorite of the ones that I’ve read by him. I think it’s because I’m just not that interested in the business world; I find his medical thrillers more thrilling. I remember being somewhat bored although I did want to finish it.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 1993
This is where I started to lose interest in Michael Crichton. One character cussed so much it got pretty unrealistic. The novel is fast-paced but ultimately kind of silly, especially when you think about how paranoia over Japanese business has been supplanted by concerns over outsourcing to countries other than Japan.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1994
recommends it for:
Crichton fans.
Pretty taut thriller, with a tough opening scene to read. Once past that, it moves quickly and gives you some insight into a clash of cultures. The movie's not great, but does a decent job at illustrating the culture clash as well. If you like Crichton, this is still better than his new stuff.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
to-read
(on 127 people's shelves)
fiction (on 29 people's shelves)
mystery (on 10 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 10 people's shelves)
own (on 6 people's shelves)
michael-crichton (on 5 people's shelves)
thriller (on 3 people's shelves)
beach-reads (on 2 people's shelves)
suspense (on 2 people's shelves)
pop (on 2 people's shelves)
More shelves...
fiction (on 29 people's shelves)
mystery (on 10 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 10 people's shelves)
own (on 6 people's shelves)
michael-crichton (on 5 people's shelves)
thriller (on 3 people's shelves)
beach-reads (on 2 people's shelves)
suspense (on 2 people's shelves)
pop (on 2 people's shelves)
More shelves...
