* Andromeda: The name evokes a sense of mystery and danger. It refers to the Andromeda Galaxy, a distant and unknown realm, adding to the sense of the alien and the unknown.
* Strain: This word emphasizes the biological nature of the threat. The book is about a deadly alien organism, a "strain" of life, that poses a serious threat to humanity.
The combination of these two words creates a powerful image of an alien threat, lurking in the vastness of space, ready to unleash its deadly power. It's a title that immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets the stage for a thrilling story of scientific discovery, suspense, and the fight for survival.
Crichton himself explained in an interview that he chose the title because it was "short, sharp, and mysterious." He also wanted a title that would be "memorable and intriguing" and that would "capture the essence of the story."