Life Will Find A Way [Review: Next]

Michael Crichton's novel Next is about genetic engineering and has an unusual structure, somewhere between a short story collection and a novel, as the minor characters from one chapter become the heroes or anti-heroes of the next. While there is a clear narrative, timeline and ending, each chapter deals with a new consequence of genetic science or a new twist on a previous event. This structure is perfect for the topic as it suggests that genetic science is running out of control with each development leading to several others, and as with Jurassic Park there is a sense of chaos overturning order.

I'm not going to go into Crichton's beliefs about global warming in this article except to make the general point that, despite being a highly intelligent writer, Crichton isn't always right. For example, the world hasn't been taken over by robot cowboys. Yet. Next takes a scattershot approach so no doubt some of these wild predictions will come about - indeed, some may already be happening.

A recurring theme is the legal status of genetic science - the point about how far behind the law is and how little it reflects reality is exaggerated heavily. Another is the creation of transgenic animals with human genes - such as Gerard and Dave the intelligent parrot and chimp respectively - they're not at all realistic but make for a great read, and ultimately the comedy wins out over the scientific or thriller elements.

The novel Next by Michael Crichton bears no relation to the film Next, which stars Nicholas Cage as a Vegas conjurer who actually does have magical powers. I will be returning to the theme of psychic powers and reviewing this film in a later post.

Search for the sci-fi gene - update

The following quotes from the blogosphere and elsewhere suggest I am not alone in thinking that the ability to enjoy more or less anything sci-fi might be genetic. Follow the links for full articles and quotes:

Well, when I was 1 year old, the original Star Trek was new. I'm told that my father used to put me in my playpen and have me watch original Star Trek when it was new in 1966. It's for this reason that I'm convinced that I'm a Sci-Fi geek. Particularly of Star Trek and other TV Sci-Fi. Well, it appears my daughter is the same way. Check out this video. It's my daughter dancing in her playpen to the theme song for Doctor Who. The Sci-Fi gene has been passed on, it seems. :)

The Sci-Fi Gene Carries On, Joe Spiegel, May 2006

The Sci Fi Gene (or Help! That Dingo Got My Wall.E)
Mysteries like: ... why does science fiction leave some folks cold, while the rest of us, well, we others just can't get enough of sci fi. As to the latter question: I suppose that it's genetic perhaps ... And thus to those of who have the correct gene, Wall.E's character/ personhood is so DANG APPEALING!

The Sci Fi Gene (or Help! That Dingo Got My Wall.E), True Margrit, July 2008

"Battlestar Galactica's" return on Jan. 16 is a cause for rejoicing, and not just because it provides a couple of million geeks a more compelling excuse than usual to stay home Friday nights. (As someone who carries the sci-fi gene, these are my peeps, so it's OK for me to dog them a little.)

Battlestar and Lost: The Power of Setting an End Date, Brian Lowry, Jan 2009

He [Phil DeGueres, Twilight Zone producer] had that sci-fi gene, not only in his willingness to explore ideas and imagine a different world—he also liked to shake things up. To my knowledge, he was the first writer-producer to use computers in a major way, not just in formatting and writing scripts, but for preproduction scheduling, budgeting and other tiresome administrative tasks.

A Death In The Family, Michael Cassutt

I missed V the first time around, but I watched on Joost before they had their big (and awful) overhaul to a Flash-based site. I would make the excuse that I was too young for it (I was about 7 or 8), but somehow I managed to see things like Poltergeist in that same time period. Maybe my sci fi gene hadn't kicked in yet?

V Original Series Creator Not Happy about Re-boot, Lee (comment on Angry Puppy), Oct 2008

For those of you who lack the sci-fi gene. I’m sure you all have friends who are nerds, geeks, spaced-out, fantasy, and sci-fi nuts. i09 (strung out on science fiction), has put together a little holiday gift guide for the 10 major species of science fiction fans.

i09 Sci-fi Gift Guide, blog I am your father, Dec 2008

Would you say The Chosen One narrative express itself better or more frequently in Science Fiction and Fantasy than in other genres?

I don’t know about that. Perhaps not. The little girl in The Little Princess, is a Chosen One, and there’s no hint of Sci Fi in that. I think it’s not something that is specific to Sci Fi, just something that *when it is present*, helps readers feel pulled into the story even if they don’t possess the Sci Fi gene.

Interview with Firefly scriptwriter Jane Espenson, N.E.Lilly, spacewesterns, 2007

So, it was interfacing with the real world that got you interested in all this stuff, not -- I was going to ask you, did you read a lot of science fiction?

No. We have a theory that there's a science fiction gene, that you either have it or you don't, and for some reason I didn't get that gene.

Interview with Ken Goldberg, Conversations with History, UC Berkeley, Aug 2005

Search for the sci-fi gene

I enjoy watching bad films.

I am sure I am not alone. For a start the films are out there - for every Escape from New York there are only too many Escapes from L.A. - so someone other than me must also be watching them.

I am increasingly convinced that the ability to sit through and enjoy these films may be a genetic flaw. It's not limited to film either but works for other media too - I inherited my interest in science fiction from my father and his collection of C.J.Cherryh (good) and Gordon R.Dickson (less good) paperbacks. Sometimes it's hard to put into words exactly what I'm getting out of a novel, watching a film or a TV show, or playing a PC game - the enjoyment is often accompanied by full awareness that the experience carries no merit whatsoever. My hypothesis is that there is a gene, the sci-fi gene, where inheritance of two deletions prevents the linkage between critical thought and emotional response to a film.

I should add I enjoy good films, books or games too - sci-fi or otherwise. There are plenty of sci-fi classics that really deserve their reputation even if they are only recognized within the genre. Terminator. There are also plenty of films that have some merit despite their shortcomings. The Star Wars sextet reminds me of a fireworks display. Some films have a great concept and may be worth watching despite serious deficiencies in acting or direction - Sim0ne, say; while others are inexplicably joyful. I am proud to be the owner of Spiders, Spiders 2, Octopus and Octopus 2 all in one box set.

I'm not looking for a cure for this affliction, but think the phenomenon merits further study. I'd love to hear of other people with unusually high tolerance for absolute crap delivered in a sci-fi wrapper.

Why a blog? In addition to reviews, occasionally I find myself thinking about the nature of sci-fi, sci-fi concepts and life itself, or I may share experiences of marginal relevance to sci-fi. It all makes sense to the holistic detective within me. When reviewing I sometimes find it helpful to compare books or films, this doesn't easily lend itself to a one-title review system. I'm writing for the pleasure of writing, and because I enjoy reading other articles and blogs on these topics.