Prey
by Michael Crichton
★ Top 25 book of 2002 · #16 on Best Books of 2002
Michael Crichton's first novel of the new century is a warning about emerging technology. It draws on nanotechnology, genetic engineering and distributed artificial intelligence, with artificial life, emergence and host-parasite coevolution at its core.
Best for: Readers who like cautionary science fiction rooted in cutting-edge technology
Prey is #16 on BookWard's Best Books of 2002, out of 32 2002 books that cleared our data bar.
What Prey is about
Jack Forman is an unemployed software programmer and stay-at-home husband whose wife Julia works at Xymos, a nanorobotics company. Lately she has been acting strangely, even cruelly, and Jack suspects she is having an affair. When he is called to the company's research facility in the Nevada desert, he finds something far stranger than infidelity. Microscopic machines have escaped into the desert, where they gather in swarms that feed on sunlight, multiply and evolve fast. They seem to hunt, and they can mimic the look and movement of people.
Crichton's thirteenth novel under his own name is a cautionary tale about nanotechnology, genetic engineering and artificial intelligence. It blends the scientific unease of Jurassic Park and The Andromeda Strain, and will appeal to readers who enjoy a fast techno-thriller.
Prey on the Best Books of 2002
Prey came out in 2002. Of the 32 books first published in 2002 that met BookWard's data bar, it ranks #16 on our Best Books of 2002 list.
Why it made the list: 232 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.5 out of 5 (44 ratings). The list ranks each year’s books on how many readers have picked them up, how highly readers rate them, and how many are reading them right now.
Nearby on the 2002 list
- Understanding Power Noam Chomsky, #14
- Without Fail Lee Child, #15
- Hoot Carl Hiaasen, #17
- The Contaxis Baby Lynne Graham, #18
See all Best Books of 2002 Best books by year
More years: Best Books of 2001 Best Books of 2003.
The numbers behind it
- Readers: 148 want to read it, 9 are reading it now and 75 have read it, according to Open Library.
- Ratings: 3.5 out of 5 from 44 Open Library ratings.
| Signal | This book (0 to 100) | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | 56 | 55% |
| Reader love | 6 | 25% |
| Being read right now | 50 | 20% |
Questions about Prey
When was Prey published?
Prey by Michael Crichton was first published in 2002.
Was Prey one of the best books of 2002?
Prey is #16 on BookWard's Best Books of 2002, out of 32 2002 books that cleared our data bar. 232 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.5 out of 5 (44 ratings).
Why is Prey on the Best Books of 2002 list?
232 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.5 out of 5 (44 ratings).
More of the best books of 2002
- Romancing Mister Bridgerton Julia Quinn, #1
- Coraline Neil Gaiman, #2
- Room on the Broom Julia Donaldson, #3
- Why Does He Do That? Lundy Bancroft, #4
- Everything's Eventual. 14 Dark Tales Stephen King, #5
- Stories of Your Life and Others Ted Chiang, #6
See the full Best Books of 2002, the Top 100, or new books on Rising.
How we know
This page uses public data: Open Library reader counts and ratings, and Wikipedia page views for recent years. The description is paraphrased from real source text. Rankings reflect reading interest, not quality or sales, and can be affected by data gaps. Lists update monthly.
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