Point of View

A historical narrator, ostensibly the author himself, tells The Andromeda Strain. The narrator describes the events in the story as if they were historical fact. The scientific details are technically accurate and heavily researched, which lends the book the feel of a scholarly publication. As, too, does the discussion of the related social philosophies and scientific theories, supported by quotes and concepts from leading scholars. The novel appears to be a painstakingly researched retelling of true events, much like a true crime story. The pseudo-journalistic, pseudo-scientific reporting style of the narrative lends credence to the author's conceit that one is reading a top secret report. The narrator states his intention to flesh out the human factor behind the Andromeda crisis, and presents his characters through this conceit, much as an FBI profiler might present the pertinent character traits of a crime suspect. However, the narrator does...