The Andromeda Strain

Hall wakes up 15 minutes later. He talks to Stone but cannot stay awake long. Hall wakes again an hour later and is told that, “according to predictions, the organism is over Los Angeles now” (180). However, nothing seems to have happened. Stone suggests that the Andromeda Strain has mutated into a benign, harmless form. Stone insists that “things are now under control” (181). The scientists are studying the organism, desperate to understand more about it.

A manned spacecraft named Andros V crashes. The loss is blamed on mechanical failure. The US government appoints a committee to investigate the cause of the crash and, in the meantime, suspends all spaceflights. The Russians also suspend all spaceflight. The investigation committee includes Jeremy Stone. Until the scientists understand what happened, the authorities can give no information as to when spaceflights will resume. A representative tells a reporter, “the decision is out of our hands” (182).