Michael Crichton dies

[Tom]

Perhaps best known for being the author of Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World, which were turned into a hugely successful movie franchise, his numerous books have sold over 150 million copies worldwide.

In what his family calls an unexpected death, it was revealed that he was waging a private battle against cancer.


http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/11/67369/

[Gemini Cricket]

:(

Wow! I didn't even know he had cancer. Sad.

[BarTopDancer]

Oh wow :(

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Wow. Although I didn't really appreciate his views on global warming and environmentalism, I certainly enjoyed quite a few of his books. One of my favorites was a lesser-known book called Airframe that kept me on the edge of my seat during a string of airline trips a few years ago (although I suppose it is always a bit unnerving to read a story about an airline crash investigation while seated on a plane so I may be biased.)

Thanks for some great books, Michael.

[Gn2Dlnd]

One of my favorites was a lesser-known book called Airframe that kept me on the edge of my seat during a string of airline trips a few years ago (although I suppose it is always a bit unnerving to read a story about an airline crash investigation while seated on a plane so I may be biased.)

Wait, was that the one where there was a team of good scientists investigators trying to establish the truth, and a team of corporate-sponsored bad scientists investigators trying to protect their sponsor's investment?

[innerSpaceman]

I've enjoyed many of his books ... especially the earlier ones.


But he was too darn tall. ;)






A great talent. Too many people will remember him for the movies made of his books, too many of which were substandard. But the fact that something like 95% of his novels were made into movies speaks volumes about the essential entertainment value of his body of work.

[flippyshark]

I kind of wish Crichton had directed more films. His WESTWORLD was highly entertaining, suspenseful and influential. COMA was also very effective, and LOOKER, well, you can't win them all. But, it would be nice if he had made more.

His novels are really hit and miss for me, but I'll say thanks for the half dozen or so that I really liked.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

But he was too darn tall. ;)As if... :p

[keith - SuPeR K!]

How upsetting! Michael is one of my favorite authors and has been for over 10 years... Wow.

[blueerica]

Wow...

[Kevy Baby]

Ya know, I have never read any of his works. Maybe this will be cause to do so!

[cirquelover]

A great talent is lost. I loved Westworld and just bought my own copy recently. I even made the boy watch.

I am sorry for his families loss.

[Jazzman]

Noooooo!!!!!

My absolute favorite author is gone. Damnit! And only 66? Way, way too young.

I guess I can stop anticipating his next book now... Shoot.

[CoasterMatt]

Damn... maybe that's why the T-rex looked so sad today?

[Gwyren]

Maybe this will get me to go back and read some of his non-fiction work. His fiction, definitely, is some of my favorite things to read. It was really interesting to read how manipulative the villain in Disclosure was, or how different thing are handled in Rising Sun.

<sighs> So many good books.

[Ghoulish Delight]

My favorite Chrichton book was The Great Train Robbery, based on a true story, but fictionalized. Beyond that, I enjoyed his stories but always found the endings lacking. Without exception.

[Alex]

Pretty much everything he wrote in the last 15 years was execrable and I found many of his personal ideas pretty bad.

But he had some good books in him and I try to remember authors for their heights not their inevitable lows.

[lindyhop]

I don't think I ever read any of his books but I had the pleasure of seeing him speak at the LA Times Festival of Books many years ago. My son liked his books so we joined the huge crowd waiting to see him. The film of Jurassic Park was pretty recent so the audience was full of kids who wanted to talk about dinosaurs. He was patient and encouraging and I was really impressed by how many kids were excited about reading because of his books (this was pre-Harry Potter).