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〃His　best　work　since　The　Andromeda　Strain。〃　
…Los　Angeles　Times　Book　Review　

〃Michael　Crichton　has　done　what　he　does　best：　giving　us　supense　for　our　nerve　endings　and　enough　scientific　speculation　to　keep　our　brains　working　at　the　same　time。〃　
…Newsweek

〃A　fast…paced　adventure　。。。　Just　when　the　reader　is　certain　nothing　more　can　go　wrong　for　the　hapless　band　of　explorers；　the　author　twists　the　screw　a　notch　tighter。〃
…San　Francisco　Chronicle　
＇＇more＇＇


〃Ingenious　and　beguiling。〃
…Time


〃With　＇＇this＇＇　thriller；　Michael　Crichton　returns　to　the　kind　of　high…tech　setting　he　evoked　so　successfully　in　The　Andromeda　Strain。　。。。　Crichton　keeps　the　action　moving。　。。。　Sphere　is　a　perfect　book　for　the　beach。〃
…The　Cleveland　Plain　Dealer

〃Plumbs　the　frightening　depths　of　perverted　psychology　。。。　Few　writers　can　make　science　as　entertaining　as　does　Crichton。　There　is　plenty　of　mystery　and　misdirection　to　sustain　the　suspense；　and　the　plotting　is　always　clever。　。。。　A　thoughtful　and　thrilling　probe　into　the　murky　depths　of　imagination。〃
…Boston　Herald

〃Possibly　his　best。〃
…New　York　Daily　News


〃Ingenious；　fast…moving；　well…written　。。。　Crichton　has　set　up　a　provocative　situation。〃
…Publishers　Weekly

〃It's　fun；　interspersing　healthy　dollops　of　suspense　and　humor　with　observations　about　the　state　of　humankind。　。。。　Crichton　has　a　gift　for　using　words　frugally　to　paint　vivid　characters。　。。。　Pure　reading　pleasure。〃　
…Baton　Rouge　Sunday　Magazine

〃Don't　start　this　book　late　at　night。　It　won't　cause　nightmares　but　it　will　cause　lack　of　sleep。　At　least　until　it's　finished。〃
…Asbury　Park　Press

〃Intriguing　。。。　spirited　。。。　bounces　merrily　along　from　one　surprise　to　the　next。〃
…Kirkus　Reviews


Books　by　Michael　Crichton：

Fiction：
THE　ANDROMEDA　STRAIN
THE　TERMINAL　MAN
THE　GREAT　TRAIN　ROBBERY
EATERS　OF　THE　DEAD
CONGO
SPHERE
JURASSIC　PARK
RISING　SUN
DISCLOSURE
THE　LOST　WORLD
AIRFRAME

Nonfiction：
FIVE　PATIENTS
JASPER　JOHNS
ELECTRONIC　LIFE
TRAVELS

Books　published　by　The　Ballantine　Publishing　Group
are　available　at　quantity　discounts　on　bulk　purchases
for　premium；　educational；　fund…raising；　and　special
sales　use。　For　details；　please　call　1…800…733…3000。


SPHERE

A　Novel　by
Michael　Crichton

BALLANTINE　BOOKS　？　NEW　YORK


Sale　of　this　book　without　a　front　cover　may　be　unauthorized。　If　this　book　is　coverless；　it　may　have　been　reported　to　the　publisher　as　〃unsold　or　destroyed〃　and　neither　the　author　nor　the　Publisher　may　have　received　payment　for　it。

Copyright　（c）1987　by　Michael　Crichton

All　rights　reserved　under　International　and　Pan…American　Copyright　Conventions。　Published　in　the　United　States　of　America　by　Ballantine　Books；　a　division　of　Random　House；　Inc。；　New　York；　and　simultaneously　in　Canada　by　Random　House　of　Canada　Limited；　Toronto。

Library　of　Congress　Catalog　Card　Number：　86…46321

//。randomhouse。

ISBN　0…345…35314…5

This　edition　published　by　arrangement　with　Alfred　A。　Knopf；　Inc。

Manufactured　in　the　United　States　of　America

First　International　Edition：　February　1988　First　U。S。　Edition：　August　1988

20　19　18　17　16　15　14　13　12



FOR　LYNN　NESBIT


When　a　scientist　views　things；　he's　not　considering　the　incredible　at　all。
…LOUIS　I。　KAHN

You　can't　fool　nature。
…RICHARD　FEYNMAN


During　the　preparation　of　this　manuscript；　I　received　help　and　encouragement　from　Caroline　Conley；　Kurt　Villadsen；　Lisa　Plonsker；　Valery　Pine；　Anne…Marie　Martin；　John　Deubert；　Lynn　Nesbit；　and　Bob　Gottlieb。　I　am　grateful　to　them　all。


CONTENTS

THE　SURFACE
1
THE　DEEP
45
THE　MONSTER
171
THE　POWER
267


THE　SURFACE


WEST　OF　TONGA

For　a　long　time　the　horizon　had　been　a　monotonous　flat　blue　line　separating　the　Pacific　Ocean　from　the　sky。　The　Navy　helicopter　raced　forward；　flying　low；　near　the　waves。　Despite　the　noise　and　the　thumping　vibration　of　the　blades；　Norman　Johnson　fell　asleep。　He　was　tired；　he　had　been　traveling　on　various　military　aircraft　for　more　than　fourteen　hours。　It　was　not　the　kind　of　thing　a　fifty…three…year…old　professor　of　psychology　was　used　to。
He　had　no　idea　how　long　he　slept。　When　he　awoke；　he　saw　that　the　horizon　was　still　flat；　there　were　white　semicircles　of　coral　atolls　ahead。　He　said　over　the　inter；　〃What's　this？〃
〃Islands　of　Ninihina　and　Tafahi；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃Technically　part　of　Tonga；　but　they're　uninhabited。　Good　sleep？〃　
〃Not　bad。〃　Norman　looked　at　the　islands　as　they　flashed　by：　a　curve　of　white　sand；　a　few　palm　trees；　then　gone。　The　flat　ocean　again。
〃Where'd　they　bring　you　in　from？〃　the　pilot　asked。　
〃San　Diego；〃　Norman　said。　〃I　left　yesterday。〃　
〃So　you　came　Honolulu…Guam…Pago…here？〃
〃That's　right。〃
〃Long　trip；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃What　kind　of　work　you　do；　sir？〃
〃I'm　a　psychologist；〃　Norman　said。
〃A　shrink；　huh？〃　The　pilot　grinned。　〃Why　not？　They've　called　in　just　about　everything　else。〃
〃How　do　you　mean？〃
〃We've　been　ferrying　people　out　of　Guam　for　the　last　two　days。　Physicists；　biologists；　mathematicians；　you　name　it。　Everybody　being　flown　to　the　middle　of　nowhere　in　the　Pacific　Ocean。〃
＇＇4＇＇　〃What's　going　on？〃　Norman　said。
The　pilot　glanced　at　him；　eyes　unreadable　behind　dark　aviator　sunglasses。　〃They're　not　telling　us　anything；　sir。　What　about　you？　What'd　they　tell　you？〃
〃They　told　me；〃　Norman　said；　〃that　there　was　an　airplane　crash。〃
〃Uh…huh；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃You　get　called　on　crashes？〃
〃I　have　been；　yes。〃
For　a　decade；　Norman　Johnson　had　been　on　the　list　of　FAA　crash…site　teams；　experts　called　on　short　notice　to　investigate　civilian　air　disasters。　The　first　time　had　been　at　the　United　Airlines　crash　in　San　Diego　in　1976；　then　he　had　been　called　to　Chicago　in　'78；　and　Dallas　in　'82。　Each　time　the　pattern　was　the　same…the　hurried　telephone　call；　frantic　packing；　the　absence　for　a　week　or　more。　This　time　his　wife；　Ellen；　had　been　annoyed　because　he　was　called　away　on　July　1；　which　meant　he　would　miss　their　July　4　beach　barbecue。　Then；　too；　Tim　was　ing　back　from　his　sophomore　year　at　Chicago；　on　his　way　to　a　summer　job　in　the　Cascades。　And　Amy；　now　sixteen；　was　just　back　from　Andover；　and　Amy　and　Ellen　didn't　get　along　very　well　if　Norman　wasn't　there　to　mediate。　The　Volvo　was　making　noises　again。　And　it　was　possible　Norman　might　miss　his　mother's　birthday　the　following　week。　〃What　crash　is　it？〃　Ellen　had　said。　〃I　haven't　heard　about　any　crash。〃　She　turned　on　the　radio　while　he　packed。　There　was　no　news　on　the　radio　of　an　airline　crash。
When　the　car　pulled　up　in　front　of　his　house；　Norman　had　been　surprised　to　see　it　was　a　Navy　pool　sedan；　with　a　uniformed　Navy　driver。
〃They　never　sent　a　Navy　car　the　other　times；〃　Ellen　said；　following　him　down　the　stairs　to　the　front　door。　〃Is　this　a　military　crash？〃
〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　
〃When　will　you　be　back？〃　
He　kissed　her。　〃I'll　call　you；〃　he　said。　〃Promise。〃
But　he　hadn't　called。　Everyone　had　been　polite　and　pleasant；　but　they　had　kept　him　away　from　telephones。　First　at　Hickam　Field　in　Honolulu；　then　at　the　Naval　Air　Station　in　Guam；　where　he　had　arrived　at　two　in　the　morning；　and　had　＇＇5＇＇　spent　half　an　hour　in　a　room　that　smelled　of　aviation　gasoline；　staring　dumbly　at　an　issue　of　the　American　Journal　of　Psychology　which　he　had　brought　with　him；　before　flying　on。　He　arrived　at　Pago　Pago　just　as　dawn　was　breaking。　Norman　was　hurried　onto　the　big　Sea　Knight　helicopter；　which　immediately　lifted　off　the　cold　tarmac　and　headed　west；　over　palm　trees　and　rusty　corrugated　rooftops；　into　the　Pacific。
He　had　been　on　this　helicopter　for　two　hours；　sleeping　part　of　the　time。　Ellen；　and　Tim　and　Amy　and　his　mother's　birthday；　now　seemed　very　far　away。
〃Where　exactly　are　we？〃
〃Between　Samoa　and　Fiji　in　the　South　Pacific；〃　the　pilot　said。
〃Can　you　show　me　on　the　chart？〃
〃I'm　not　supposed　to　do　that；　sir。　Anyway；　it　wouldn't　show　much。　Right　now　you're　two　hundred　miles　from　anywhere；　sir。〃
Norman　stared　at　the　flat　horizon；　still　blue　and　featureless。　I　can　believe　it；　he　thought。　He　yawned。　〃Don't　you　get　bored　looking　at　that？〃
〃To　tell　you　the　truth；　no；　sir；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃I'm　real　happy　to　see　it　flat　like　this。　At　least　we've　got　good　weather。　And　it　won't　hold。　There's　a　cyclone　forming　up　in　the　Admiralties；　should　swing　down　this　way　in　a　few　days。〃　
〃What　happens　then？〃
〃Everybody　clears　the　hell　out。　Weather　can　be　tough　in　this　part　of　the　world；　sir。　I'm　from　Florida　and　I　saw　some　hurricanes　when　I　was　a　kid；　but　you've　never　seen　anything　like　a　Pacific　cyclone；　sir。〃
Norman　nodded。　〃How　much　longer　until　we　get　there？〃
〃Any　minute　now；　sir。〃

After　two　hours　of　monotony；　the　cluster　of　ships　appeared　unusually　interesting。　There　were　more　than　a　dozen　vessels　of　various　kinds；　formed　roughly　into　concentric　circles。　On　the　outer　perimeter；　he　counted　eight　gray　Navy　destroyers。　Closer　to　the　center　were　large　ships　that　had　wide…spaced　double　hulls　and　looked　like　floating　＇＇6＇＇　dry…docks；　then　nondescript　boxy　ships　with　flat　helicopter　decks；　and　in　the　center；　amid　all　the　gray；　two　white　ships；　each　with　a　flat　pad　and　a　bull's…eye。
The　pilot　listed　them　off：　〃You　got　your　destroyers　on　the　outside；　for　protection；　RVS's　further　in；　that's　Remote　Vehicle　Support；　for　the　robots；　then　MSS；　Mission　Support　and　Supply；　and　OSRV's　in　the　center。〃
〃OSRV's？〃
〃Oceanographic　Survey　and　Research　Vessels。〃　The　pilot　pointed　to　the　white　ships。　〃John　Hawes　to　port；　and　William　Arthur　to　starboard。　We'll　put　down　on　the　Hawes。〃　The　pilot　circled　the　formation　of　ships。　Norman　could　see　launches　running　back　and　forth　between　the　ships；　leaving　small　white　wakes　against　the　deep　blue　of　the　water。
〃All　this　for　an　airplane　crash？〃　Norman　said。
〃Hey；〃　the　pilot　grinned。　〃I　never　mentioned　a　crash。　Check　your　seat　belt　if　you　would；　sir。　We're　about　to　land。〃

BARNES

The　red　bull's…eye　grew　larger；　and　slid　beneath　them　as　the　helicopter　touched　down。　Norman　fumbled　with　his　seat　belt　buckle　as　a　uniformed　Navy　man　ran　up　and　opened　the　door。
〃Dr。　Johnson？　Norman　Johnson？〃　
〃That's　right。〃
〃Have　any　baggage；　sir？〃
〃Just　this。〃　Norman　reached　back；　pulled　out　his　day　case。　The　officer　took　it。
〃Any　scientific　instruments；　anything　like　that？〃　
〃No。　That's　it。〃
〃This　way；　sir。　Keep　your　head　down；　follow　me；　and　don't　go　aft；　sir。〃
＇＇7＇＇　Norman　stepped　out；　ducking　beneath　the　blades。　He　followed　the　officer　off　the　helipad　and　down　a　narrow　stairs。　The　metal　handrail　was　hot　to　the　touch。　Behind　him；　the　helicopter　lifted　off；　the　pilot　giving　him　a　final　wave。　Once　the　helicopter　had　gone；　the　Pacific　air　felt　still　and　brutally　hot。
〃Good　trip；　sir？〃
〃Fine。〃
〃Need　to　go；　sir？〃
〃I've　just　arrived；〃　Norman　said。
〃No；　I　mean：　do　you　need　to　use　the　head；　sir。〃
〃No；〃　Norman　said。
〃Good。　Don't　use　the　heads；　they're　all　backed　up。〃
〃All　right。〃
〃Plumbing's　been　screwed　up　since　last　night。　We're　working　on　the　problem　and　hope　to　have　it　solved　soon。〃　He　peered　at　Norman。　〃We　have　a　lot　of　women　on　board　at　the　moment；　sir。〃
〃I　see；〃　Norman　said。
〃There's　a　chemical　john　if　you　need　it；　sir。〃
〃I'm　okay；　thanks。〃
〃In　that　case；　Captain　Barnes　wants　to　see　you　at　once；　sir。〃
〃I'd　like　to　call　my　family。〃
〃You　can　mention　that　to　Captain　Barnes；　sir。〃
They　ducked　through　a　door；　moving　out　of　the　hot　sun　into　a　fluorescent…lit　hallway。　It　was　much　cooler。　〃Air　conditioning　hasn't　gone　out　lately；〃　the　officer　said。　〃At　least　that's　something。〃
〃Does　the　air　conditioning　go　out　often？〃
〃Only　when　it's　hot。〃
Through　another　door；　and　into　a　large　workroom：　metal　walls；　racks　of　tools；　acetylene　torches　spraying　sparks　as　workmen　hunched　over　metal　pontoons　and　pieces　of　intricate　machinery；　cables　snaking　over　the　floor。　〃We　do　ROV　repairs　here；〃　the　officer　said；　shouting　over　the　din。　〃Most　of　the　heavy　work　is　done　on　the　tenders。　We　just　do　some　of　the　electronics　here。　We　go　this　way；　sir。〃
Through　another　door；　down　another　corridor；　and　into　a　wide；　low…ceilinged　room　crammed　with　video　monitors。　A　＇＇8＇＇　half…dozen　technicians　sat　in　shadowy　half…darkness　before　the　color　screens。　Norman　paused　to　look。
〃This　is　where　we　monitor　the　ROV's；〃　the　officer　said。　〃We've　got　three　or　four　robots　down　on　the　bottom　at　any　given　time。　Plus　the　MSB's　and　the　FD's；　of　course。〃
Norman　heard　the　crackle　and　hiss　of　r