Since Next is one of Mr. [Michael] Crichton's more un-put-downable novels, the reader may experience some frustration. It's tempting to stop and look up each of the genetic, legal and ethical aberrations described here in order to see how wild a strain of science fiction is afoot. Save a step. Just believe this: Oddity after oddity in Next checks out, and many are replays of real events.

The snooker player rechalked his cue nervously between shots.

Millennials' love for their pups is so intense, it's spawned its own language. Us hoomans chase our heckin floofers, iPhones in hand, snapping pics of their snoots and bleps to share with frens, posting with captions about the goodest boy in the world.

There's a lot of USO girls in Hollywood, Hope mused on his World War II tours. USO - Use Slacks Only. Ho ho ho. Women wearing pants. Real thigh-slapper.