Sphere (novel)
First edition cover
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| Author | Michael Crichton |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction novel, Techno-thriller |
| Publisher | Knopf |
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Publication date
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May 12, 1987 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 385 pp. |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 15198625 |
| 813/.54 19 | |
| LC Class | PS3553.R48 S6 1987 |
Sphere is a novel written by author Michael Crichton that was published in 1987. The novel was adapted into the film Sphere in 1998.
The story follows Norman Johnson, a psychologist engaged by the United States Navy, who joins a team of scientists assembled to examine a spacecraft of unknown origin discovered on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The novel begins as a science fiction story but quickly transforms into a psychological thriller, developing into an exploration of the nature of the human imagination.
A group of scientists (psychologist Norman Johnson; mathematician Harry Adams; zoologist Beth Halpern; astrophysicist Ted Fielding; and marine biologist Arthur Levine), along with U.S. Navy personnel, travel to a deep sea habitat at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, where an enormous spacecraft has been discovered.
During the descent, the marine biologist (Levine) becomes claustrophobic, and is returned topside. The other scientists arrive safely at Habitat DH-8. After their arrival and subsequent pressurization to the habitat's exotic-gas environment, the Navy sends a robot to enter the spacecraft first, which locates and opens a panel near the spacecraft door.
As the robot's cameras focus on the opened panel, labels in English indicate the spacecraft is an American spacecraft constructed in the future and sent through time, appearing on the seabed at least 350 years before its creation. The robot is unable to open a hatch leading further inside, forcing the team to don pressure suits and explore the spacecraft. In a large cargo hold, the team discovers a mysterious spherical object that is clearly of extraterrestrial origin.
Reasoning the ship's future builders were apparently unaware that it had already been found in their past, Adams becomes convinced that the team will not survive to report their discovery.
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