The Andromeda Strain
| Author | Michael Crichton |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Techno-thriller |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
Publication date | 12 May 1969 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Hardcover Paperback Audio |
| Pages | 304 pages |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-394-41525-6 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
The Andromeda Strain (1969) is a techno-thriller novel by Michael Crichton. The plot concerns a team of scientists investigating a deadly disease of extraterrestrial origin which causes rapid, fatal clotting of the blood. This novel established Crichton as a best-selling author.
Plot summary
A military satellite returns to Earth, and a recovery team, in a single van to avoid suspicion, is sent to retrieve it. While on a live radio connection to the military base, the recovery team dies. Aerial surveillance later shows that everyone in Piedmont, Utah, the town near the satellite's landing site, has also died. The base commander suspects the satellite brought back an extraterrestrial organism and recommends that the Wildfire team be activated.
Wildfire is a team of five scientists who the government believed would be useful in countering an extraterrestrial biological infestation. Dr. Stone has specialized in molecular biology; Dr. Leavitt is a specialist in disease pathology; Dr. Burton has specialized in infection vectors; and Dr. Hall is a surgeon with special interest in biochemistry and pH factors. The fifth member, Dr. Kirke, a specialist in electrolytes, could not be summoned since he had appendicitis.
The scientists think the satellite, which was designed to find upper-atmosphere microorganisms for germ warfare, brought back an organism that kills by clotting blood to powder. After investigating the town, the team discovers that the residents die in mid-stride or go "quietly nuts" and commit bizarre suicide. Piedmont's only survivors, the sick, Sterno-addicted, geriatric Peter Jackson and the always-crying infant, Jamie Ritter, are about as opposite as two humans can be.
The man, infant, and satellite are taken to the secret Wildfire laboratory, in Flatrock, Nevada, about 60 miles from Las Vegas. More investigation determines that the cause of the bizarre deaths is a crystal-based, extraterrestrial, bacteria-sized, microbial lifeform that existed on a tiny meteor that collided with the satellite and knocked it out of orbit. This lifeform contains the same chemical elements as life on earth, but lacks DNA, RNA, proteins, and amino acids. It directly transforms matter to energy and energy to matter.
The lifeform, codenamed "Andromeda," mutates with each growth, causing its properties to change. The scientists discover that it only grows within a narrow range of pH. If the medium for growth is too acidic, the organism will not multiply. If it is too basic, it will not multiply. Only within the range of pH 7.39 to 7.43 (precisely the same range as normal human blood) will it grow well. This explains why Jackson and Ritter survived: both had abnormal blood. By the time the scientists notice this, however, Andromeda has mutated into a form that degrades polymer plastic. It begins to attack the neoprene seals of the doors and hatches in Wildfire. As seal after seal breaks, an automatic mechanism begins a countdown to the detonation of an atomic device housed beneath the complex that will incinerate all traces of exobiological diseases before they can reach the surface. However, given its ability to generate matter directly from energy, Andromeda would only find the bomb a bigger energy source.
To prevent the explosion, Dr. Hall must insert a special key into one of the emergency substations installed throughout Wildfire. Unfortunately, he is trapped in a section whose substation has not yet been installed. He, therefore, must run through an obstacle course of Wildfire's automatic defense mechanisms to reach a working substation on another level. He manages to shut down the device. Andromeda is allowed to escape because it is currently benign and will most likely migrate back into the upper atmosphere where conditions are more favorable.
An epilogue to the novel reveals that a manned spacecraft, Andros V, burned up on re-entry as its polymer-based heat shielding failed. All spaceflight attempts were discontinued until further notice.
Odd Man Hypothesis
The “Odd Man Hypothesis” is a fictional hypothesis articulated in the book and also mentioned by name in the movie. In the book the explanation is presented as a page from a report by the RAND Corporation on a series of tests where life forms were given command decisions to make during a hypothetical nuclear, biological or chemical crisis. This was repeated in the film:
Results of special testing confirm the Odd Man Hypothesis, that an unmarried male should carry out command decisions involving thermonuclear or chem-biol destruct contexts.
The Odd Man Hypothesis states that unmarried men are capable of carrying out the best, most dispassionate decisions during crises. A page of statistics is then shown, titled “Group: Index of Effectiveness,” ranging from .343 for married males to .946 for single male scientists. Then listing the same for each of the main characters (Stone .687, Burton .543, Kirke .614, Leavitt .601, Hall .899). Thus, Hall is given the one and only control key to halt, if necessary, the automated self-destruct system built into the Wildfire base. Leavitt also admits that the Odd Man Hypothesis is essentially the only reason for Hall’s assignment to the Wildfire team, in lieu of Kirk's knowledge of electrolytes.
The fabrication of a scientific principle with supportive numbers and charts belongs to a literary technique called false document.
Main characters
- Dr. Jeremy Stone
- Professor of bacteriology at University of California, Berkeley; a Nobel Prize winner
- Dr. Charles Burton
- Professor of pathology at Baylor College of Medicine (changed to Dr. Charles Dutton in the movie):
- Dr. Peter Leavitt (changed to Dr. Ruth Leavitt in the movie)
- Clinical microbiologist; suffering from epilepsy
- Dr. Mark Hall
- Medical doctor and surgeon
Quotes
- “A man with binoculars. That is how it began: with a man standing by the side of the road, on a crest overlooking a small Arizona town, on a winter night. Lieutenant Roger Shawn must have found the binoculars difficult. The metal would be cold, and he would be clumsy in his fur parka and heavy gloves.“
- “…biology, the retarded child… Even in the time of Newton and Galileo, men knew more about the moon and other heavenly bodies than they did about their own.”
- “…first contact with extraterrestrial life will be determined by the known probablities of speciation… complex organisms are rare on earth… simple organisms flourish in abundance… there are millions of bacteria, thousands of insects but few primates… frequency of speciation goes a corresponding frequency in numbers… human interaction with extra terrestrial will… [be] identical to bacteria or viruses.”
- “…it was equally possible for extra terrestrial to contaminate the earth via space probes.”
- "We've faced up to quite a planning problem here. How to disinfect the human body — one of the dirtiest things in the known universe — without killing the person at the same time."
Adaptations
The book was the basis for a 1971 film of the same name, directed by Robert Wise and starring Arthur Hill as Stone, James Olson as Hall, Kate Reid as Leavitt, and David Wayne as Burton (renamed Dutton in the film).
In September 2004, the Sci Fi Channel announced it would begin production of a miniseries, executive produced by Ridley and Tony Scott and Frank Darabont. On May 2, 2007 it was mentioned on SciFi channel's news website (The SciFi Wire) that the long- awaited miniseries will now be shown on the A&E Network and has the potential to run up to six hours. Also, on August 16th, 2007, cast and crew filmed at the Surrey, BC campus of Simon Fraser University.[1]. The miniseries is now slated to premiere on Monday, May 26, 2008 (U.S. Memorial Day) at 9:00 PM (Eastern), and is billed as a "a two-night television event".[2]
A fictional website has appeared, featuring references to trouble in Piedmont, Utah. It takes on the appearance of a blog, featuring posts and comments. This website is an apparent viral advertisement for the above discussed mini-series.
The science fiction-themed death metal band Nocturnus have a song inspired by the novel, called Andromeda Strain, on their debut album The Key.
Progressive metal-band Shadow Gallery also have a song called The Andromeda Strain which deals about genetically engineered biological weapons, on their album Room V.
Klaus Schulze has a concert recording named Andromeda Strain.
References
- Crichton, Michael (1969). The Andromeda Strain. ISBN 0-345-37848-2.