What is the author's style in Airframe by Michael Crichton?

Airframe is written in the third person point of view. This point of view is omniscient in that it allows the reader to not only see the story through the narrator's eyes, but also feel the narrator's emotions and see the narrator's thoughts. The narrator of this novel switches between several minor characters, Casey Singleton, and Jennifer Malone. This switch in narrators allows the reader to see more of the story than might be possible with only one narrator. The story begins on board Flight 545 and the reader is allowed to see the incident through a passenger's eyes. However, this passenger is never used as a narrator again. In fact, this narrator is seen only one other time, underscoring the fact that she is a minor character.

The point of view in this novel works well because it allows the reader an intimate relationship with a major character that is the motivating force within the developing plot. If the reader did not feel intimately connected to Casey Singleton, the reader might not care if Casey is caught by the angry workers who stalk her or if she learns the truth behind the incident on Flight 545. The point of view also works when Jennifer Malone is the narrator because it shows the reader Jennifer's motivations and makes her less of a villain and more of a victim of her own ambition. This point of view allows a connection between the reader and the characters, giving the reader a reason to care how the plot develops.