The Great Train Robbery / The Andromeda Strain

by Michael Crichton

The United States government is given a warning by the pre-eminent biophysicists in the current sterilization procedures applied to returning space probes may be inadequate to guarantee uncontaminated re-entry to the atmosphere. Two years later, seventeen satellites are sent into the outer fringes of space to collect organisms and dust for study. One of them falls to earth, landing in a desolate area of Arizona. Twelve miles from the landing site, in the town of Piedmont, a shocking discovery is the streets are littered with the dead bodies of the town's inhabitants, as if they dropped dead in their tracks.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller

Paperback

Published January 1, 2002

About the author

John Michael Crichton was an American author, screenwriter, and filmmaker whose prolific career left an indelible mark on popular culture and speculative fiction. Raised on Long Island, he displayed a precocious talent for writing, publishing an article in The New York Times at sixteen. Initially enrolling at Harvard as an English major, he switched to biological anthropology after discovering a preference for scientific study over literature. He graduated summa cum laude and received a fellowship to lecture in anthropology at Cambridge. Later attending Harvard Medical School, he earned his MD but chose not to practice, dedicating himself to writing instead. His medical background profoundly influenced his novels, providing authentic scientific and technical underpinnings that became a hallmark of his work. Crichton began writing under pseudonyms, producing suspenseful thrillers as John Lange, including Odds On, Scratch One, and Easy Go, and as Jeffrey Hudson with A Case of Need, earning him an Edgar Award. His first major success under his own name, The Andromeda Strain, established his signature blend of scientific authenticity, tension, and exploration of technological hazards, leading to its film adaptation. Over his career, he wrote 25 novels, including The Terminal Man, The Great Train Robbery, Congo, Sphere, Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure, The Lost World, Airframe, Timeline, Prey, State of Fear, and Next, several adapted into major films, with four additional works published posthumously. Crichton also made significant contributions to film and television. He wrote and directed Westworld, pioneering the use of 2D computer-generated imagery, and later directed Coma, The First Great Train Robbery, Looker, and Runaway. He created the influential medical drama ER, which he executive produced and developed with Steven Spielberg, achieving critical and commercial success. Many of his novels, most famously Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World, became cultural phenomena, combining imaginative adventure with grounded scientific speculation, often exploring humanity’s overreach in genetics, biotechnology, and complex systems. His literary style was notable for integrating meticulous scientific detail, suspense, and moral cautionary themes. His works frequently addressed the failure of complex systems—biological, technological, or organizational—demonstrating the unpredictable consequences of human hubris. Employing techniques such as first-person narratives, false documents, fictionalized scientific reports, and assembling expert teams to tackle crises, Crichton created immersive stories appealing to both popular and scholarly audiences. His exploration of genetics, paleontology, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence revealed both fascination and caution about humanity’s technological ambitions, while his early non-fiction, such as Five Patients and Electronic Life, reflected his scientific insight and forward-thinking approach to computers and programming. Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall, Crichton experienced social isolation in adolescence and later pursued meditation and consultations with psychics, cultivating a lifelong interest in human consciousness and alternative experiences. A workaholic, he approached writing with disciplined ritualistic methodology, often retreating entirely to complete a novel in six or seven weeks. He was married five times, fathered two children, and maintained a wide-ranging collection of 20th-century American art. Crichton engaged in political and scientific discourse, particularly regarding global warming, where he was an outspoken skeptic and testified before the U.S. Senate. He contributed significantly to the discussion of intellectual property, technology, and environmental policy, coining concepts such as the Gell-Mann amnesia effect. Throughout his life, he received numerous awards, including Edgar Awards, a Peabody Award for ER, an Aca

Reviews

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book and highly recommend it. It provided a great amount of historical data in different ways and context. Newspapers, court records and cultural history all in one story. I also happen to read it while on a train- perfect!

[Marycee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crichton did a lot of research to write this interesting account of the “Great train robbery” of 1855. The common criminal element and the harsh reality of life in London was refreshingly honest. People were dirty, cruel and most people had difficult even miserable lives. Crichton dis-passionately relays murders, suffering while keeping the reader engaged. He includes enough social commentary to keep interest high as well. I recommend finding an “underworld terms of Britain” reference book at hand in order to look up some of Crichton’s archaic terminology. Overall this is a solidly researched interesting read.

[LambchoP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both Great Train Robbery and Andromeda Strain were both very fun compelling reads. While significantly different, they both contained Crichton's down to earth, easy to read style which made my experience with both books all the more better. Andromeda Strain is Crichton's first published novel under his own name and is a great sci-fi story that will hook you from the first page. The Great Train Robbery is a fun action packed story of Britain's largest robbery to date. If you're a fan of Michael Crichton's other books, or are looking for a fun, quick palette cleanser read, you could do much worse than these two. 4.5/5 stars for these!

[Arnau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written as well as very informative about the way the Victorians lived and behaved.

[J.J.Y. Sharpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely preferred The Great Train Robbery, great historical detail and character development, as well as the great plot you would expect with MC.

[Samuel Barkász · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very known and one of the biggest roberries in the world perfectly fitted into a book. Separate stories create one big story. We are allowed to see how the robbery was set and happened.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting, fun and educational read. Learned a lot about London in the mid-1800's. This was based on a true train robbery. I have not read a lot of Michael Crichton's books, but this one from the mid 1970's is really good. I recommend it.

[Ted Rolfs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical information. Quick read. Not as engaging as other Crichton books.

[Logan Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little historical fiction if you are into that type of thing.

[Muhammad Afiq Mohd Sadli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discover how the great train robbery is done without any use of firearms or explosives!

[Sidhant Chand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Crichton is epic!

[Prince Jebaraj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Crichton...... He simply never disappoints:) :):):):):):)

[Mike Stipo]

Very epic. A great heist book as a period novel.