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More of a textbook than a novel You can break up this novel into two parts: the issues/data, and the "plot". The issues and data presented about them are very interesting, and are heavily footnoted and have sources given in a lengthy appendix. As such, it is a textbook. Crichton then goes on to provide an analysis of the data, inferring that there are extremeists on both sides of the debate. I am very impressed that he has quoted his sources, and it has given me much to think about and research. But is that why I wanted to read the book? As entertainment, it's pretty standard conspiracy-theory pulp: huge corporate and government entities conducting clandestine operations with layers of motives, muggings, having your house ransacked, the idealistic millionaire activist, etc. It felt like Crichton was being lazy from a storytelling point of view: two-thirds of the way through the book he suddenly realized "Hey, someone may film this -- I'd better put something spectacular in." There's a sudden shift towards adventure, and action, with a particularly bizarre event involving a character who is effectively Martin Sheen in all but name. (If you've read the book, you'll know what I'm referring to.) There's also a plot "twist" which was very clearly telegraphed -- I felt like yelling at the characters because they being so obtuse. I'm glad I read the book, but not for the reasons I expected when I started.