Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of The Terminal Man

The Terminal Man
The Terminal Man
Author: Michael Crichton
ISBN-13: 9780679448969
ISBN-10: 0679448969
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 3

3.8 stars, based on 3 ratings
Publisher: Random House Audio
Book Type: Audio Cassette
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

30 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The Terminal Man on + 54 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is different from Crichton's other books, but still is a gripping plot. This book is a look at what might happen when doctors start trying to change parts of the mind physically. Excellent book!
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 113 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
"A brilliantly achieved and all-too-believale modern Frankenstien" Book-of-the-month club news
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 144 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Fast paced and interesting. Different from most so it holds the interest.
DustyShu avatar reviewed The Terminal Man on + 67 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Another good Crichton read. Although it's dated (early 70s), it still manages to capture the imagination. Better than average "what if" book.
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 21 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A fascinating, splendidly documented thriller
barbsis avatar reviewed The Terminal Man on + 1076 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Harry Benson is a computer analyst who works for the DOD and thinks machines are taking over the world. On top of his delusions, Harry was in a car accident which resulted in brain damage. Harry suffers from seizures which make him violent and he is wanted by the police. Most of the medical staff at University Hospital think he's a perfect candidate for surgery - implantation of a computer in his brain to stop the impulses triggering these seizures. All except his psychiatrist, Janet Ross, who realizes that Harry is psychotic and will feel that machines really are taking over at least taking over him. It all spirals out of control when after the operation, the nurses neglect to give him his medication. Then the race is on.

With a premise like that, this should have been an excellent book. However, it really fell flat. There was too much medical and computer speak, as well as too much interaction with the hospital staff and their hopes and dreams for fame and fortune. Granted some of this is necessary but 2/3 of the book? The ending was intense (and upped my rating to 3 stars) but the book itself merely rated 2 stars. A real disappointment from Crichton. I listened to this on audiotape otherwise I never would have finished it.
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 42 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
THis one was hard to put down once started.
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Good Medical Thriller. Even though it is 1971 in the book, the theory that is played out is intriguing. Man with brain disorder that causes violent outbursts, has computer implanted in his brain to prevent the outbursts by stimulating pleasure areas. Only he gets hooked on the feeling and excapes from the hospital.
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 612 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this book.
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 30 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
another great Michael Crichton
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Interesting premise and totally believable given the advance of technology
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Lags a bit at time, but a pretty cool book in all.
tish avatar reviewed The Terminal Man on + 384 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
this was when this author was still fascinating
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 105 more book reviews
Set and written in the early 70s with themes around artificial intelligence, psychology, and mental disorders. Neat to flash back to a time when computers weren't quite omnipresent, but now it seems outdated. Not bad and a relatively short novel.

2 stars out of 5
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 20 more book reviews
Great story.
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 48 more book reviews
Computer technology is dated, having been written in the early 1970s, but the premise behind the book is interesting and still relevate today.
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 36 more book reviews
Harry benson is prone to violent uncontrollable seizures and is under police guard for attacking two people.Dr.Roger Mcphersonhead of neurophciatric research unit is convinced he can cure Benson through a procedure called stage three. though the operation is a success,there is an unforseen development. And Benson exscapes a homocidal maniac.loose in the city nothing will stop his murderous rampages or impende his deadly agenda...
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 7 more book reviews
I haven't read it. Seems real interesting to someone who enjoys medically themed thrillers.
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 6 more book reviews
If you like suspense this is a story for you. It had me on the edge of my seat.
KelseyFamily06 avatar reviewed The Terminal Man on + 53 more book reviews
Good Book.
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 60 more book reviews
Very fast paced. I can't belive they made Congo into a movie before this one.
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 23 more book reviews
All I can say after I just finished this book yesterday is:

READ THIS BOOK !!!!!!! I can only say that it's so exciting near the end you won't put it down.
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 988 more book reviews
Harry Benson is prone to violent, uncontrollable seizures and is under police guard after attacking two people. Dr. Roger McPherson, head of the prestigious Neuropsychiatric Research Unit at University Hospital in Los Angeles, is convinced he can cure Benson through a procedure called Stage Three. During this highly specialized experimental surgery, electrodes will be place in the patient's brain, sending monitored, soothing pulses to its pleasure canyons. Though the operation is a success, there is an unforseen development. Benson learns how to control the pulses and is increasing their frequency. He escapes -- a homicidal maniac loose in the city -- and nothing will stop his murderous rampages or impede his deadly agenda .
Mel avatar reviewed The Terminal Man on + 186 more book reviews
This is a great book. I know the pic doesn't have anything to do with the book but it is also Scifi so sue me.
Nightcrawler avatar reviewed The Terminal Man on + 207 more book reviews
I really enjoyed reading this book.

The cover is not the same shown. It is black with a man inside a circle with wavy lines going through him.
Nightcrawler avatar reviewed The Terminal Man on + 207 more book reviews
Very good read.
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 122 more book reviews
Benson is treated for violent seizures with a procedure known as stage three. He escapes the hospital and "lapses into murderous rampages, becoming a homicidal maniac with a deadly agenda..."
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 335 more book reviews
Harry Benson suffers from violent seizures. So violent that he requires a police guard when entering a los Angeles hospital for treatment.
Dr. Roger McPherson, head of the prestigious Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, is convinced he can cure Benson through a procedure known as a stage three. During this highly specialized surgery, electrodes, placed deep in Benson's brain, send monitored soothing pulses to its pleasure canyons.
The operation is a succes - until Benson discovers how to get the pulses with increasing frequency. Then he escapes from the hospital and lapses into murderous rampages, becoming a homicidal maniac with a deadly agenda...
reviewed The Terminal Man on + 27 more book reviews
Harry Benson suffers from violent seizures. So violent that he requires a police guard when entering a Los Angeles hospital for treatment. Dr. Roger McPherson is convinced he can cure Benson through a procedure known as a stage three. During this highly specialized surgery, electrodes placed deep in Benson's brain send monitored soothing pulses to its pleasure canyons. The operation is a success--until Benson discovers how to get the pulses with increasing frequency. Then he escapes from the hospital and lapses into murderous rampages, becoming a homicidal maniac with a deadly agenda.
CraftyTJ avatar reviewed The Terminal Man on + 381 more book reviews
Harry Benson suffers from violent seizures so violent that he requires a police guard when entering a hospital for treatment. He escapes from a hosptial and lapses into murderous rampages.
A modern Frankenstein.

(The cover is not the same shown. It has a man with long wires coming out of his head.)