We wrap our Andromeda Strain two-parter with the 1971 film. From Robert Wise’s old-Hollywood gravitas to the split-screen tension and tactile lab tech, we dig into why the movie often outpaces the novel. We also touch on BookTok’s retail revival, tech-bro nutrition, modern conspiracy ecosystems, microbiomes/decontamination logic, and the film’s still-spiky ending. Verdict: if you’re on the fence, watch the movie.

In this episode of Written & Watched, we crack open Michael Crichton’s The Andromeda Strain and map where it sits on the spectrum from hard science fiction to speculative thriller. We unpack the Wildfire complex and its “odd-man” nuclear failsafe; nitpick biology (pH myths, the limits of personality indices, extremophiles); and explore the bigger questions the book tees up—What counts as life? When does sentience start? Why might climate realism and “solarpunk” solutions beat a Mars escape plan?

Laughing Briar has books here: https://laughingbriarbooks.com/

We also dive into AI’s “Chinese Room,” the film Her, the microbiome (yes, fecal transplants), endosymbiosis (mitochondria!), and why fungi (hello, cordyceps) might be the real doomsday villain. Plus: a character spotlight on the book’s most memorable survivor, a boozy storyteller named Peter Jackson, and a frank look at the novel’s self-solving ending.

Next up: the 1971 Andromeda Strain film—watch along and join us.

We watched Annihilation! We have thoughts on this Alex Garland interpretation of the text.

https://upnerd.captivate.fm/

https://www.youtube.com/@UpNerdPodcastNetwork

We read Annihilation! We have thoughts on this creepy strange, polarizing text!

https://upnerd.captivate.fm/

https://www.youtube.com/@UpNerdPodcastNetwork

We watched World War Z, and talked about zombies, warfare, and the heinous movie that this is!

SS Fitzgerald: https://www.ssfitzgerald.net/

We read WWZ, and talked about zombies, warfare, and the epistolary text!

SS Fitzgerald: https://www.ssfitzgerald.net/

AMA covid MARCH 9th 2020 with Max Brooks: https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/fhj24f/i_am_max_brooks_author_of_world_war_z_and_i_am/

Guardian article on preppers: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/sep/04/super-rich-prepper-bunkers-apocalypse-survival-richest-rushkoff

Wow is this movie bad. We watched "When Nietzsche Wept" and gave it some credit, ok, no credit. Which it deserves. (minor audio issue at start, crackles go away)

Anthony and I read "when Nietzsche wept" Any interest in philosophy? Historical fiction? Lou Salome with a riding crop? (thought that one would get ya!!)