The BBC and many other news sites are reporting the death at only 66 of international bestselling author Michael Crichton after losing the battle with cancer. Crichton successfully created books, film scripts and television series across his career, with a large helping of notable science fiction hits among them (although in most bookstores his SF work would be in the mainstream fiction section and many of his readers probably wouldn’t think of themselves as SF readers). Older classics like The Andromeda Strain and Westworld rub shoulders with more modern uber-hits like Jurassic Park. The family had kept details of his struggle with cancer quiet, so I imagine I am not alone in being surprised at this news; it looks as if he was still working through the illness though as a new book was due to be published in the US next month, although HarperCollins has announced they will now delay that release.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I think he had an interesting mind, an impressive work ethic, and a talent for finding different subject matter. I’m sorry he is gone.