"Disclosure" By Michael Crichton

Title: Disclosure
Author: Michael Crichton
Published Year: 1993
Pages: 497 pages

Yes another Crichton book, but don't worry I still have more of his works to read! One thing that the reader needs to do with this book before they start it is look at the year that this book was published. Trust me, it will be helpful while reading this book since the book deals with the inner workings of a high-tech firm. I kept reminding myself of how old I was and what I was doing in 1993 along with what technologies were actually available at that time. It did help me out a ton in staying in with the time period and not comparing it too much to our current times with all the technical advances we have made since 1993. Now on to what this book is about.

Disclosure takes place within a high-tech firm, with the action taking place at its Seattle location primarily. I say primarily because there are communications with other divisions not within the United States as well as India during the course of the book. What is going on is that the high-tech firm is merging with another firm that is not a high-tech company but has the financial backing to take the high-tech firm further and do more with the research they are doing plus expand their own market to be competitive with the bigger companies in their market. Add in a sexual harassment case of a man versus a woman which is not your typical happening and the action intensifies. Of course knowing Crichton, this is not the only thing going on. Why the sexual harassment took place and how it plays into the merger itself is all part of the mystery that Crichton presents and you will be second-guessing what is really happening all the way to the end, at least I was.

One thing I loved about this book is that the setting takes place in Seattle. I have spent my entire life in western Washington, and so of course have been to Seattle many times. As I have gotten older I have been able to explore more of it and recognize places that I have heard and read about but never really paid any attention to until like I said I got older. The offices of the high-tech firm where much of the stuff is going on is right in Pioneer Square which I have more and more recently come to love for its history and its current setting. Add in some other spots like the Four Seasons (I've never been outside of it, but love to walk outside of it) and the ferry ride to Bainbridge Island and I feel a little at home reading this book. That's all my personal thoughts though.

In reality it is a good book and brings some ideas to light that need to be taken more seriously even in today's world 18 years later.