Though I'm very pleased to see at least one season of Psi-Factor released on domestic DVD, I'm apalled at the lousy packaging. Nowhere in the DVD set (there are 5 DVDs) is there any mention of the individual episode content. No such information is on the back of the case; there is no booklet or flyer accompanying the DVDs; there is no indication on the individual DVDs as to what episodes are included on a given DVD. Worse yet, the DVDs aren't even numbered 1-5; thus, there is no easy or logical way to determine the content of a DVD without inserting the DVD into the player and perusing a menu. Thankfully I found a fan-based Psi-Factor website that does provide such episode information, but was certainly annoyed at the waste of time having to track down and print information that should have been included with the DVD set to begin with.

This book deals with everything from murder to racism. It especially deals with the ongoing battle of business between the United States and Japan. Just when you think that you know what is going to happen next, a whole different thing happens than what you expected. What's great about this book is that it is non stop action from the beginning to the end. Whether it's a high speed chase or bodies that are found in swimming pools to people jumping off of buildings, this is the book toread if you are looking for these kind of things. Now that I have read this book, I know how serious the Japanese feel about business and believe me, they take it very seriously. If you are looking for abook with lots action, this is the book to check out. You won't be dissapointed.

Rising Sun was a terrible read. Crichton uses one device throughout: the old hand knows everything an hour before the young guy and slowly reveals it to him. It's tiring and monotonous. Never mind the even more monotonous lectures on the differences between American and Japanese business cultures.

The ultimate combination of a "who done it" and a "high-tech. thriller"- Crichton satisfies the die hard fan of bothtypes of novels. It's friday night, the Grand Opening partyof Nakamoto building, and no one would suspect that a herrendous murderwas being committed on the 46th floor. Through sophisticated technology, the Japanese doctored the original recordingof the murder, concealing the true identity of the murderer.The two detectives, John Conner and Peter Kelly, are entangledin a race against the clock, following many disappointing leads.Is American technology modern enough to uncover Japanese doctored tapes? Did the Nakamoto corporation play a role in themurder? The novel's twist ending can not possibly be uncovereduntil the last 30 pages.

Many of the predictions in this book about the Japanese "taking over America" by buying it up have not come true. Indeed, with Japan's current economic decline the alarmist tone of this book is quite laughable. I remember reading it at the time and being somewhat skeptical, but in 2008, this book has almost no relevance except as an example of fear-mongering from a prior decade. The mystery story itself is only so-so. Stick to Jurassic Park or the Andromedia Strain.

This book is a ridiculous, repetitive piece of propaganda; in the middle of the novel, the story is virtually dropped for some 100 pages in favor of endless examples of "Japanese corporate treachery." While the examples provided are apparently true, they take on racist undertones when Crichton utterly fails to separate "Japanese corporations" from "the Japanese." I'm sure Crichton would object to being judged by the actions of Nike, McDonalds or Microsoft. Propaganda aside, the thriller aspect of the novel is a snore, and Crichton's writing is mediocre at best. The most outstanding characteristics of his prose are his odd usage of punctuation and the awkward lack of contractions in dialogue. This novel is insulting to the intelligence and a waste of time and energy.