Author of such modern classics as Jurassic Park, Sphere, The Andromeda Strain as well as creator of E.R. and writer of the movie Twister, he was and always will be listed as one of my favorite writers. I remember as far back as sixth grade, getting money for a book fair that the school was having and seeing (during lunch, since the fair was in the cafeteria) Jurassic Park. Now, I had seen the movie not too long before that, but I heard how good the book was (actually, how much better and DIFFERENT the book was) and I needed to see for myself. The book, and many of the rest of them that I’ve read over the years, were probably far above me at the time I was reading it (I remember reading Terminal Man while on vacation in Niagara Falls in the summer of ’96 (I think) and being driven around to places while nose deep in it) and to some extent, maybe they still are. But they intrigued me.

I especially found it interesting that unlike a lot of other authors who have help researching, he did it himself. And in a day and age like we are in today where an author signs off on a novel that someone else wrote in the style of the author (like Tom Clancy or James Patterson) he choose never to sell himself out in that way.

I was just thinking about looking him up this year for a book to add onto my Christmas List (yeah, I still make them, you got a problem with that?), he always had a two to three year gap between books (unlike some authors, like Patterson that have one every two to three months, not all with his sole name attached to the cover).

Thank you for the many hours that you kept me captivated to the pages, movies, and shows on television. You were a true writer, who was an inspiration and who will be missed greatly.

–Cos

Please follow link for the article:

from comingsoon.net:

Michael Crichton: 1942 – 2008
Source: The Associated Press
November 5, 2008

The year 2008 has claimed another one of the greats.

Michael Crichton, the million-selling author of such historic and prehistoric science thrillers as “Jurassic Park,” “Timeline” and “The Andromeda Strain,” has died of cancer, his family said.

He died Tuesday in Los Angeles at age 66 after a long battle with the illness.

Chrichton was a brand-name author, known for his stories of disaster and systematic breakdown, such as the rampant microbe of “The Andromeda Strain” or dinosaurs running amok in “Jurassic Park,” one of his many books that became major Hollywood movies.

“Through his books, Michael Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields, and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way we could all understand,” his family said in a statement.

The 6-foot-9-inch author was also a screenwriter and filmmaker, earning producing and writing credits for the film versions of many of his titles. He also created the TV hospital series “ER” in 1994.

A new novel by Crichton had been tentatively scheduled to come next month, but publisher HarperCollins said the book was postponed indefinitely because of his illness.

“While the world knew him as a great storyteller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us — and entertained us all while doing so — his wife Sherri, daughter Taylor, family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes,” his family said.

Steven Spielberg, who worked numerous times with Crichton, released the following statement:

Michael’s talent out-scaled even his own dinosaurs of ‘Jurassic Park.” He was the greatest at blending science with big theatrical concepts, which is what gave credibility to dinosaurs again walking the earth. In the early days, Michael had just sold “The Andromeda Strain” to Robert Wise at Universal and I had recently signed on as a contract TV director there. My first assignment was to show Michael Crichton around the Universal lot. We became friends and professionally “Jurassic Park,” “ER,” and “Twister” followed. Michael was a gentle soul who reserved his flamboyant side for his novels. There is no one in the wings that will ever take his place.

UPDATED at 8:55pm:

I just looked up on wikipedia.org Michael Crichton’s information and they had this to say about his final book:

His last novel will be released posthumously on May 4, 2009. [9] It was pushed back from its originally scheduled release date of December 2, 2008 [10]. The title has not been revealed.

Ohh! I so want it now…