A Case of Needing Serious Revisions
Michael Crichton has penned some of the most engaging, timely, and thoroughly accessible tales tobe published in the last twenty-five years. What his novels lack in literary merit and distinctive stylethey make up for in crisp plotting and edge-of-your-seat suspense. From alien viruses to regenerated dinosaurs, from evil Japanese monoliths to the insidious maneuverings of the modern corporation, Crichtonlatches onto the scientific and political controversies of the day, and squeezes out of them every last ounce of shock value. At least, that's usually what he does. A Case Of Need could have used quite a bit more shock value. The problem is largely a matter of timing; when the book came out in 1969, the moral dilemma surrounding illegal abortions was still a hotenough topic to seem ripped from the headlines. Though abortion certainly remains a hot-button issue, the debate has shifted. For the time being, at least, the argument centers on whether or not the act should be legal, not on whether or not doctors are currently breaking the law by performing them. The antiquated plot line is not the story's main flaw. The biggest drawback here is a one-two punch of highly technical prose employed to
Of course, Crichton is a skilled craftsman, and this is why the book is not a total waste. By creating interesting (if somewhat stereotypical) stock characters, and placing them in somewhat contrived situations, Crichton does manage to explore some of the more complex issues surrounding a medical crime. details range from gory to mundane, they manage to eloquently convey the process involved, even as they obscure the relevance of each step in the process. Each twist and turn in the examination is detailed: the study of blood samples, the dissection of the corpse, the consideration of diet, age, even the psychological profile of the victim. Those these "'Only proteins can be denatured, and steroids are not proteins, right? This'll be easy. See,the normal rabbit test is chorionic gonadotrophin in urine. But in this lab we're geared to measure that, or progesterone, or any of a number of other eleven-beta hydroxylated compounds. In pregnancy, progesterone levels increase ten times. Estriollevels increase a thousand times. We can measure a jump like that, no sweat.'" Peter will go so far as to torch an incriminating automobile rather than let the truth be known. From the evils of the all-powerful hospital to the darker recesses of one physician's heart, the cruelest and most self-serving side of the noblest science is placed out in the sun for all to see. unfold. Crichton makes the terminology slightly more palatable by making Berry a fairly sarcastic and cynical practitioner of his craft. Still, one can only stomach so much detailed description of autopsies, biopsy examinations, and crit readings.
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Approximate Word count = 1952
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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