The mathematician explains that objects with mass warp the geometry of space. A ball-bearing is used to represent a spacecraft. He places pieces of fruit on a table to represent objects in space, such as planets or stars. The mathematician uses a demonstration to illustrate Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
Norman asks to explain the science “in English,” without mathematics. “Why? It’s quite straightforward,” says the mathematician. “I’ve never really understood that ,” Norman says. The mathematician then becomes a mouthpiece for Crichton to teach the reader about space-time-and it’s a thrill to learn from him. Norman is as naïve as most readers (and this was 1987, before the exploding popularization of astrophysics, so the public knew even less back then). In one scene, Norman asks the team’s mathematician to explain space-time. When we finish the novel, we are grateful to have been entertained, but we have also learned a lot. Sphere touches on many scientific disciplines, including astrophysics, human psychology, mathematics, computer programming, physiology, and marine biology. Crichton educated himself on these subjects and then teaches them to the reader through his writing.Ĭrichton isn’t just an entertainer he’s a teacher. It’s obvious that Crichton goes to great lengths to understand his material. When authors don’t understand their subject matter, it’s reflected in the writing. It’s practically a law in science writing that if you don’t understand the material yourself, neither will the reader.
Educate yourself, then teach it to your readers Many biologists feel the development of the intelligent life on earth required so many peculiar steps that it represents a unique event in the universe, that may never occur elsewhere.”Ĭrichton can get away with this information dump because scientists actually talk to each other this way. “He’s referring,” Beth says, “to the fact that physicists and chemists tend to believe in intelligent life, while biologists do not. “We’ve shot the ‘unique hypothesis’ to hell,” one character points out. Crichton dumps information about a theory known as “The unique hypothesis.” Early in the book, the characters become convinced that the vessel on the ocean floor is extraterrestrial. Set up a conversation between two expertsĬrichton delivers a great deal of scientific information via dialogue between well-educated, scientifically inclined characters. By writing from the perspective of a polymath, Crichton can inform a reader of many subjects, tapping into the character’s knowledge by jumping into their thoughts. Norman is diamond smart, well-educated, widely read, and intensely curious. In a sense, Crichton liked to make his point of view characters Renaissance men. Crichton then seamlessly transitions into exposition. It was one of the episodes that the SETI promoters wished to forget, Norman thought. Norman also knew about the Davies Message. Crichton does this again later with Harry’s question, “You mean like the Davies Message?” “It was one of the famous proposals in the literature on extraterrestrial life,” Norman thinks, but Crichton then magnanimously has Norman say, “Refresh me.” This prompts the mathematician to explain the equation as he might in introducing it to a naïve person, using simple terms as well as a demonstration.
As a psychologist, Norman likely wouldn’t know, but the narrator claims that he does. For example, the story’s mathematician asks Norman if he knows about the Drake equation. In order to deliver technical information in simple terms, Crichton sets up conversations between experts and people who know little about the topics of conversation.
Set up a conversation between an expert and a layperson In this example, the marine biologist identifies the squid and explains its capabilities, informing the naïve reader. For instance, the undersea habitat is attacked by various creatures-a swarm of jellyfish, a giant squid-and by having a marine biologist in the story, Crichton can have the expert share realizations with others. Crichton invented characters to serve the plot and/or the science he knew would drive the story.
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