Crichton’s Novel Prey - Comparison’s to Lost
A few years ago Michael Crichton (writer of Jurassic Park, Congo, etc) wrote a book describing the dangers of nanotechnology. While the ideas in the book are NOT scientifically feasible today Crichton is describing how the world could be in the not so distant future. His book is a very good read that I would highly recommend to any Lost fan. In the book there are some interesting aspects that I believe tie fairly closely to Lost. Here are the highlights:
- The facility where the nanobots are manufactured is in the remote desert of Nevada ~ far away from prying eyes of the government or any regulatory body
- The work is top secret ~ even those that work for the company don’t really know the extent of the project
- The development of nanotechnology is for the benefit of society ~ the company started with altuistic motives
- The nanobots are housed in a very secure location that involves a super high power magnet
- The nanobots escape unexpectantly in an accident ~ kind of
- The only safe place to be with the nanobots outside the facility is to remain inside the very secure facility
- The nanobots infest people ~ they can give strength to people and sap that strength away ~ they can also alter the state of someone’s mind making them irrational and compulsive
- The nanobots travel primarily in a swarm, a black cloud
- The nanobots learn and progress ~ the AI advances much more quickly than anticipated
- The nanobots can swarm into any shape ~ they take on the appearance of humans and are indistinguishable from real people
- The nanobots learn to “speak” or make sounds to replicate speach
With those points in mind think about the similarities to Lost. A deserted island. An accident that occured. Locke’s ability to walk after 4 years of disability. Quarantine on the hatch telling folks to stay in the bunkers. A black cloud that moves and is organized. The monster that is so large it moves trees yet the Losties haven’t seen it, it’s footprints, or anything else that would indicate that the monster ever existed. Walt’s appearance? Was it really Walt or was Shannon seeing something similar to a recorded message being played back to her?
Anyway, something to think about. If you can think of any additional commonalities please write and in and let me know.
