Earlier today, I was extremely saddened when I learned of Michael Crichton's passing just yesterday. Apparently he'd been struggling with some version of cancer for some time. He was only sixty-six.When I first started envisioning a life as a writer, it may surprise you to find out that I didn't want to be Steve King. I didn't even want to be Clive Barker.
I wanted to be Michael Crichton.
Crichton transcended not only genre, but medium as well. He started out writing mystery paperbacks in the 60's while he was in medical school: he thought it would be a keen way to earn some extra money. He never thought they were worth much - posterity-wise - and he had them published under a pseudonym. After becoming a full-fledged doctor, however, writing appealed to him more an more while the politics of medicine appealed to him less and less. Crichton wrote everything from the aformentioned mysteries, to historical-based adventure ("The Great Train Robbery" and "Eaters of the Dead") to academic science-fiction adventure ("Congo," "Sphere," "The Andromeda Strain," "Jurassic Park") to what I would call science-fiction "warning" books, ("Prey," "State of Fear," "Next"). Whatever you classify his work as, you must classify it as a "Crichton" work. He was one of those authors that carved out a distinctive style all his own, and perfected it.
Given the opportunity to direct a feature film version of his own novel, "The Great Train Robbery" - Crichton reluctantly agreed. This foray into film was only the first of several "behind the scenes" attachments to many popular films and television series. Virtually all of Crichton's fictional works have been made into films, or are in development. He shepherded "E.R." into being - and of course, his novel about Dino-DNA inspired Steven Spielberg to make one of the most far-reaching and successful films of the twentieth century.
I admired Michael Crichton's honesty and his stubbornnes; he was one of those authors/creators that did what he wanted, when he wanted. He will be sorely missed, but oft remembered.
If you haven't read Crichton's autobiography - "Travels" - I HIGHLY recommend it. I GUARANTEE that you won't be disappointed.
