Tedious. Overlong. Dubious subplot premise. Hackneyed dialogue. Also, the climax revealed the fatal flaw pointed out by Amy Farrah Fowler noted about “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The entire story is a cheat. Spoiler alert:
None of the human efforts to divert or minimize Moana Loa’s eruption made any difference in the ultimate outcome. None of the deaths were necessary. Was that the Crichton/Patterson message? Stand aside, silly humans; nature will do what’s best?