This was a mildly enjoyable read, but certainly not compelling or breathtaking story (as the flap synopsis would have you believe).  The plot is contrived, the characters are not well developed, and there are character imponderables not explained.  There is suspense and a fast pace, but they are not well molded.  And while there is a plot twist towards the end that is interesting, the story ends abruptly, like a steam engine that just runs out of heat.  Not what you would expect from someone of Crichton's caliber.
The story revolves around a nanotechnology project in the Nevada desert.  A small research firm is working a Department of Defense contract to develop a battlefield intelligence-gathering system based on a cloud of nanocomponents.  These would act in concert, forming a composite lens and communications system that would have a high degree of survivability against conventional enemy countermeasures.  To complicate things, "The nanoparticles in the cloud had to be endowed with a rudimentary intelligence, so that they could interface with each other to form a flock that wheeled in the air." (pg. 125)  The flocking capability would enhance usefulness as well as survivability.  Unfortunately emergence theory came into play during testing and development, which led to rapid evolution towards self-awareness and a survival instinct.
Crichton does a reasonable job of explaining the technical basis underlying the plot.  He takes us through nanotechnology, artificial distributed intelligence, flocking behavior, and so forth.  This is what saves the book.  It's worth reading, but really only for the science in it.
This was a mildly enjoyable read, but certainly not compelling or breathtaking story (as the flap synopsis would have you believe). The plot is contrived, the characters are not well developed, and there are character imponderables not explained. There is suspense and a fast pace, but they are not well molded. And while there is a plot twist towards the end that is interesting, the story ends abruptly, like a steam engine that just runs out of heat. Not what you would expect from someone of Crichton's caliber. The story revolves around a nanotechnology project in the Nevada desert. A small research firm is working a Department of Defense contract to develop a battlefield intelligence-gathering system based on a cloud of nanocomponents. These would act in concert, forming a composite lens and communications system that would have a high degree of survivability against conventional enemy countermeasures. To complicate things, "The nanoparticles in the cloud had to be endowed with a rudimentary intelligence, so that they could interface with each other to form a flock that wheeled in the air. " (pg. 125)  The flocking capability would enhance usefulness as well as survivability. Unfortunately emergence theory came into play during testing and development, which led to rapid evolution towards self-awareness and a survival instinct. Crichton does a reasonable job of explaining the technical basis underlying the plot. He takes us through nanotechnology, artificial distributed intelligence, flocking behavior, and so forth. This is what saves the book. It's worth reading, but really only for the science in it.