carol. ’s review of Sphere > Likes and Comments
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Excellent review 👏
I think this was one of the first "adult" books I read, definitely my only other "adult thriller" was Jurassic Park - and I remember losing my mind over it lol! It absolutely got me into thrillers and horror, I wonder what it would be like reading now 15ish years later!
A very well-thought out review Carol! Sorry it disappointed some but it got you researching so that's always a plus!
The Barry Levinson film came out in 1998: Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson, Sharon Stone, Liev Schreiber. Terrible.
I am not very curious about this book, but your review is fascinating. Thank you :)
Definitely one of Crichton's weaker works. My favorite of his works has always been the Great Train Robbery, which I am still fond of even as I've largely soured on the rest of his work.
I haven't been scuba diving in decades, but I still recall the basics and a little bit about saturation diving (I think there was a Cousteau episode with a team that used helium). Definitely appreciate you sharing your skepticism and research into deep dives.
And a great review. Five diving masks and snorkels! 🤿🤿🤿🤿🤿
TL *Humaning the Best She Can* wrote: "Excellent review 👏"
Thank you, TL! I appreciate it.
Mackenzie wrote: "I think this was one of the first "adult" books I read, definitely my only other "adult thriller" was Jurassic Park - and I remember losing my mind over it lol! It absolutely got me into thrillers ..."
Ha! I can see where it would be especially appealing to that adolescent age group. I appreciate the attempts to bring in science as well--some aspects of physics are such a struggle for me.
Tina wrote: "A very well-thought out review Carol! Sorry it disappointed some but it got you researching so that's always a plus!"
Right? It was super-interesting. There's even a Netflix/BBC documentary on one man who faced a similar situation as in the book, only at 300 feet. He actually 'died' (they think) and perfectly recovered. I mean to watch that!
Gerhard wrote: "The Barry Levinson film came out in 1998: Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson, Sharon Stone, Liev Schreiber. Terrible."
I've heard that. Surprising, with that cast. But I'm going to try a real-life documentary instead (see above note)
Alexandra wrote: "I am not very curious about this book, but your review is fascinating. Thank you :)"
Thank you! A high compliment!
Mikhail wrote: "Definitely one of Crichton's weaker works. My favorite of his works has always been the Great Train Robbery, which I am still fond of even as I've largely soured on the rest of his work."
I had that feeling! I haven't heard of the GTR!
David wrote: "I haven't been scuba diving in decades, but I still recall the basics and a little bit about saturation diving (I think there was a Cousteau episode with a team that used helium). Definitely apprec..."
Yes! Cousteau was actively involved in the French version of Sealab projects, I think called 'Conshelf.' Saturation diving is super interesting--I think for these oil rig divers, they actually live at the surface in barometric chambers between the dives so that they don't officially have to decompress until their tour is done.
I remember reading this when I was a teen, back in the 90s and I loved it. But it seemed dated even then, because we could do what 50 years from 1987? Just doesnt seem plausible :D
I agree with Michal .. Great Train Robbery is a favorite of mine. Congo , Airframe ,and Timeline are also high up on my list of Criton.
Patrícia⁷ wrote: "I remember reading this when I was a teen, back in the 90s and I loved it. But it seemed dated even then, because we could do what 50 years from 1987? Just doesnt seem plausible :D"
Shockingly, not as much as one would have thought! It turns out that it is incredibly expensive and difficult. The solution for commercial activities is--as far as I can understand--to keep humans in pressurized living quarters at the surface/on the ship, and then send them down to depths for their work shift. That avoids the decompression time and avoids the expensive, leaking habitats.
James wrote: "I agree with Michal .. Great Train Robbery is a favorite of mine. Congo , Airframe ,and Timeline are also high up on my list of Criton."
Good to know! I think Congo caught my eye.
carol. wrote: "TL *Humaning the Best She Can* wrote: "Excellent review 👏"
Thank you, TL! I appreciate it."
You're welcome 😊
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TL *Humaning the Best She Can*
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Apr 09, 2026 10:02AM
Excellent review 👏
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I think this was one of the first "adult" books I read, definitely my only other "adult thriller" was Jurassic Park - and I remember losing my mind over it lol! It absolutely got me into thrillers and horror, I wonder what it would be like reading now 15ish years later!
A very well-thought out review Carol! Sorry it disappointed some but it got you researching so that's always a plus!
The Barry Levinson film came out in 1998: Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson, Sharon Stone, Liev Schreiber. Terrible.
I am not very curious about this book, but your review is fascinating. Thank you :)
Definitely one of Crichton's weaker works. My favorite of his works has always been the Great Train Robbery, which I am still fond of even as I've largely soured on the rest of his work.
I haven't been scuba diving in decades, but I still recall the basics and a little bit about saturation diving (I think there was a Cousteau episode with a team that used helium). Definitely appreciate you sharing your skepticism and research into deep dives. And a great review. Five diving masks and snorkels! 🤿🤿🤿🤿🤿
TL *Humaning the Best She Can* wrote: "Excellent review 👏"Thank you, TL! I appreciate it.
Mackenzie wrote: "I think this was one of the first "adult" books I read, definitely my only other "adult thriller" was Jurassic Park - and I remember losing my mind over it lol! It absolutely got me into thrillers ..."Ha! I can see where it would be especially appealing to that adolescent age group. I appreciate the attempts to bring in science as well--some aspects of physics are such a struggle for me.
Tina wrote: "A very well-thought out review Carol! Sorry it disappointed some but it got you researching so that's always a plus!"Right? It was super-interesting. There's even a Netflix/BBC documentary on one man who faced a similar situation as in the book, only at 300 feet. He actually 'died' (they think) and perfectly recovered. I mean to watch that!
Gerhard wrote: "The Barry Levinson film came out in 1998: Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson, Sharon Stone, Liev Schreiber. Terrible."I've heard that. Surprising, with that cast. But I'm going to try a real-life documentary instead (see above note)
Alexandra wrote: "I am not very curious about this book, but your review is fascinating. Thank you :)"Thank you! A high compliment!
Mikhail wrote: "Definitely one of Crichton's weaker works. My favorite of his works has always been the Great Train Robbery, which I am still fond of even as I've largely soured on the rest of his work."I had that feeling! I haven't heard of the GTR!
David wrote: "I haven't been scuba diving in decades, but I still recall the basics and a little bit about saturation diving (I think there was a Cousteau episode with a team that used helium). Definitely apprec..."Yes! Cousteau was actively involved in the French version of Sealab projects, I think called 'Conshelf.' Saturation diving is super interesting--I think for these oil rig divers, they actually live at the surface in barometric chambers between the dives so that they don't officially have to decompress until their tour is done.
I remember reading this when I was a teen, back in the 90s and I loved it. But it seemed dated even then, because we could do what 50 years from 1987? Just doesnt seem plausible :D
I agree with Michal .. Great Train Robbery is a favorite of mine. Congo , Airframe ,and Timeline are also high up on my list of Criton.
Patrícia⁷ wrote: "I remember reading this when I was a teen, back in the 90s and I loved it. But it seemed dated even then, because we could do what 50 years from 1987? Just doesnt seem plausible :D"Shockingly, not as much as one would have thought! It turns out that it is incredibly expensive and difficult. The solution for commercial activities is--as far as I can understand--to keep humans in pressurized living quarters at the surface/on the ship, and then send them down to depths for their work shift. That avoids the decompression time and avoids the expensive, leaking habitats.
James wrote: "I agree with Michal .. Great Train Robbery is a favorite of mine. Congo , Airframe ,and Timeline are also high up on my list of Criton."Good to know! I think Congo caught my eye.
carol. wrote: "TL *Humaning the Best She Can* wrote: "Excellent review 👏"Thank you, TL! I appreciate it."
You're welcome 😊
