Rising Sun
By Michael Crichton
Release Date: January 27, 1992
Ebook Available from WV Reads!
3 Stars - I was surprised to find this was less an action thriller, more a police procedural and mystery. While some of tech is outdated, the concepts behind them are still being manipulated today. The same goes as well as many of the relationship dynamics and situations. Peter Smith and John Connor are likable if flawed protagonists and it's easy to get into their lives and their search for the truth.
Michael Crichton has many avid fans across the multiple genres he's tackled. I confess I've only read a few, and while I can see the appeal, I am never racing to pick up another novel of his. Rising Sun is pretty much the same. It's not a non-stop thrill ride but there are a lot of clues getting dropped and fun little twists. So it's always entertaining. Smith's perspective as he learns more about the case and Connor himself is an excellent touch. He's relatable, if maybe a little blind, and underneath his outward struggles, a decent person.
Smith actually reminded me a lot of Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby in that he's an average person giving you his take on the people and scenarios around him. Sure, Smith has a personality and a past but this is carefully crafted to make him pretty neutral. And therefore, he gets to suspect everyone. Connor is an excellent mentor/sidekick for him. He's mysterious but endlessly helpful. There's another slew of side characters both good and evil as well of course. All of them are written in a way that feels real. As far as the plot goes, this is where I have some issues with Crichton's style. He throws out detail after detail but instead of giving us easily weaved threads to do some thinking for ourselves, he pretty much just ends up telling us how it is. As I said before though, there were many aspects though still strikingly relevant today such as racism, police tactics, globalism, economics, crime, child custody, etc. I wouldn't call this a light or fast-paced read but Crichton's loyal readers as well as crime thriller fans will find plenty to like.
(NS)
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