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Ironically, for someone who is credited with selling over 150 million books, Crichton initially avoided writing because he didn't think he would make a living at it. So he turned to medical school instead, graduating with an M.D. from Harvard in 1969. The budding doctor had already written one award-winning novel pseudonymically (1968's A Case of Need) to help pay the bills through school; but when The Andromeda Strain came out in the same year of his med school graduation, Crichton's new career path became obvious.
The Andromeda Strain brilliantly and convincingly sets out an American scientific crisis in the form of a deadly epidemic. Its tone -- both critical of and sympathetic toward the scientific community -- set a precedent for Crichton works to come. A 1970 nonfiction work, Five Patients offers the same tone in a very different form, that being an inside look at a hospital.
Crichton's works were inspired by a remarkably curious mind. His plots often explored scientific issues -- but not always. Some of his most compelling thrillers were set against the backdrop of global trade relations (Rising Sun), corporate treachery (Disclosure) and good old-fashioned Victorian-era theft (The Great Train Robbery). The author never shied away from challenging topics, but it's obvious from his phenomenal sales that he never waxed pedantic. Writing about Prey, Crichton's cautionary tale of nanotech gone awry, The New York Times Book Review put it this way: "You're entertained on one level and you learn something on another."
On the page, Crichton's storytelling was eerily nonfictional in style. His journalistic, almost professorial, and usually third-person narration lent an air of credibility to his often disturbing tales -- in The Andromeda Strain, he went so far as to provide a fake bibliography. Along the way, he revelled in flouting basic, often subconscious assumptions: Dinosaurs are long-gone; women are workplace victims, not predators; computers are, by and large, predictable machines.
The dazzling diversity of Crichton's interests and talents became ever more evident as the years progressed. In addition to penning bestselling novels, he wrote screenplays and a travel memoir, directed several movies, created Academy Award-winning movie production software, and testified before Congress about the science of global warming -- this last as a result of his controversial 2004 eco-thriller State of Fear, a novel that reflected Crichton's own skepticism about the true nature of climate change. His views on the subject were severely criticized by leading environmentalists.
On November 4, 2008, Michael Crichton died, following a long battle against cancer. Beloved by millions of readers, his techno-thrillers and science-inflected cautionary tales remain perennial bestsellers and have spawned a literary genre all its own.
"I'm very interested in 20th-century American art."
"I have always been interested in movies and television as well as books. I see all these as media for storytelling, and I don't discriminate among them. At some periods of my life I preferred to work on movies, and at others I preferred books."
"In the early 1990s, interviewers began calling me ‘the father of the techno-thriller.' Nobody ever had before. Finally I began asking the interviewers, ‘Why do you call me that?' They said, ‘Because Tom Clancy says you are the father of the techno-thriller.' So I called Tom up and said, ‘Listen, thank you, but I'm not the father of the techno-thriller.' He said, ‘Yes you are.' I said, ‘No, I'm not, before me there were thrillers like Failsafe and Seven Days in May and The Manchurian Candidate that were techno-thrillers.' He said, ‘No, those are all political. You're the father of the techno-thriller.' And there it ended."
"My favorite recreation is to hike in the wilderness. I am fond of Hawaii."
"I used to scuba dive a lot, but haven't lately. For a time I liked to photograph sharks but like anything else, the thrill wears off. Earlier in my life I took serious risks, but I stopped when I became a parent."
"I taught myself to cook by following Indian and Szechuan recipes. They each have about 20 ingredients. I used to grind my own spices, I was really into it. Now I don't have much time to cook anymore. When I do, I cook Italian food."
"I read almost exclusively nonfiction. Most times I am researching some topic, which may or may not lead to a book. So my reading is pretty focused, although the focus can shift quickly."
"I have always been interested in whatever is missing or excluded from conventional thought. As a result I am drawn to writers who are out of fashion, bypassed, irritating, difficult, or excessive. I also like the disreputable works of famous writers. Thus I end up reading and liking Paul Feyerabend (Against Method), G. K. Chesterton (Orthodoxy, What's Wrong with the World), John Stuart Mill, Hemingway (Garden of Eden), Nietzsche, Machiavelli, Alain Finkielkraut (Defeat of the Mind), Anton Ehrenzweig (Hidden Order of Art), Arthur Koestler (Midwife Toad, Beyond Reductionism), Ian McHarg (Design with Nature), Marguerite Duras, Jung, late James M. Cain (Serenade), Paul Campos.
"Because I get up so early to work, I tend to go to bed early, around 10 or 11. So I don't go out much. I suppose I am borderline reclusive. I don't care."
I had to read this for my English class, and it has really turned me onto his other books. The plot line keeps you guessing until the very end. With very funny characters and awesome one liners it was very entertaining to read.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 30, 2005
I rediscovered this book recently when I went on a Michael Crichton reading kick, I needed to get my fix. I dusted off all of my MC novels and after reading through so many of them at once I decided to write a review on this work. Reading this book after reading the other Crichton novels I felt that though the inventiveness of the plot, and the well developed characters were what I would expect from Crichton, I was dissapointed with the lack of detail spent in description of the goings on of the corporate world. I felt as though Crichton, who is usually amazing in regards to specificity, did not spend enough time on the accuracy of the world in which the novel took place and as a result it didn't strike the novel home for me. The characters were very interesting though, poor Sanders! The sexual harassment situation reminded me of a book my wife just passed on to me called Manhook, by Ken Ratcliffe. It has a very dark, but very humorous view of the corporate world and is worth a read if you liked this novel. I've also been into Harlan Coben a lot lately, The Latest, is incredible.
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Posted June 25, 2004
This book was really good. I was so surprised with this book. It was so different than the movie. Meredeth Johnson is much more coniving in the book and is much more disturbed. The book touches very much on the glass ceiling that women have in corporate life and to what ends that some women will do to get to the top. The book puts you through both sides of the issue. I was also impressed by the technical side of the issue and showed a technical business; and how it is run. The book really shows you that sexual harassment is really about power. It also shows you just how a sexual harassment claim can ruin a person's career even if you didn't do it. Just the claim alone can ruin a career and the book shows that. I liked the movie better, but the book was real good as well.
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Posted August 3, 2004
Tom Sanders never thinks about the old days in Cupertino, when he lived for a time with a woman named Meredith Johnson. He's settled happily into his company's Seattle office, has married, and is busy raising a young family. At 41, he's also anticipating the reward for his years of service when his division spins off and goes public. That will certainly secure his financial future, and it just might make him rich. But first he and the company must get through a merger. That may not be easy, because the promotion Tom anticipates goes to - complete surprise - his old girlfriend. To this Tom thinks he can adjust. When Meredith Johnson starts their new relationship with broad references to their old one, and then demands sexual favors, Tom finds out that adjusting won't be possible. What he doesn't know is Meredith's real reason for doing this. If he doesn't discover her hidden agenda in time, the life he treasures now and the future he dreams of for his family will both disappear. And that's if he's lucky. What happens if he isn't lucky? He loses it all. His wife and kids, too. Like Crichton's other books, this one is gripping and well written. However, his stated intention - to show the reader certain truths about sexual harassment by writing the tale in 'role reversal' mode - didn't work for me. Despite meticulous research and a good outward understanding of his subject matter, Crichton's inability to write female characters trips him up this time. The only woman he really 'gets right,' attorney Fernandez, he ruins in the postscript by putting views into her mouth that are at odds (wildly) with her characterization throughout the chapters in which she appears. I agree completely with his pounded in point that women and men are all, in the end, simply people. Individuals, who should no more be stereotyped and expected to behave in certain ways than should Blacks, Hispanics, etc. The trouble is, he works so hard at reversing the stereotypes that he winds up leaving me curiously convinced that in his heart of hearts he still believes in them.
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Posted January 18, 2004
I just started reading this book, and I'm at about chapter 6 or around there. The plot is seeming like it's going to take off any time now. So for all you people who are where I am, stay with it!!!!!!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 5, 2003
I finished this book in under a week. Although it starts out slow, by page 100 its running rampant. The plot is so fast-paced and suspensful that you literally cannot put it down. There were more nights that I stayed up reading...1AM...2AM..3AM...I could not put this book down! The key to this story is that it forces you to choose sides and it has more plot twists than anything else. This was a superb read, possibly his best ever.
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Posted November 26, 2003
I think it was great how he wrote this book to at 't'. The techinical writing is absolutely flawless. I loved it!
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Posted October 4, 2003
The book is so great!! The movie is even better!! I just love the way the movie relates to the book!! I had a great time reading it and the woman was really crazy!! How could she try to ruin the man's life?!? But anyway I loved the book!!!
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Posted April 19, 2003
A must read for everyone in COrporate america.... potraits how the top management plays games behind employees' backs.. also about how 'Law is not to provide justice but only to settle a dispute' as is mentioned in the book. wud strongly recommend..
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Posted May 9, 2001
Let me make it clear that I am reviewing the abridged audio cassette version of Disclosure as performed by John Lithgow. This novel is seriously flawed by concocting two of the most amoral and unscrupulous corporate characters imaginable to the most paranoid author. Machiavelli would not have found these people credible either. These characters are way 'over the top' for me. They would not have lasted in any company that I have ever run into. I graded the book down two stars for this extreme weakness. If you believe that there are people willing to cut every possible corner operating at the top of major American corporations, you will probably find this to be a five star book. If you think that people who run companies are pretty much like everyone else in terms of how intrigued they are by power and money, then you will have difficulties accepting the premises of this book. The basic story line is very intriguing, building on a role reversal of the typical sexual harrassment charges. A male executive, Tom Sanders, is accused of sexually harrassing his new female boss, and former lover. He, in turn, accuses her of sexually harrassing him. The incident itself turns out to be simply one scene of a five act play involving larger corporate issues. In the process, you will learn a great deal about how sexual harrassment law has become an area where the accused and the victims both have little to gain. Also, you will see how false charges can be used as powerful leverage inside a company or other workplace. The book also contains interesting tidbits of information about the history of sexual harrassment and what the law describes it as. As a reader, I urge you to be patient with the sexual harrassment scene. It is overtly phony . . . but that has a literary purpose. I can say no more without affecting your enjoyment of the novel. John Lithgow does a tremendous job with his reading of this abridgement. One of my favorites amongst his stylings is a loud sniff that precedes every sentence uttered by the pompous corporate general counsel. I could hardly keep from laughing aloud whenever Mr. Lithgow did this. He has a very versatile voice and ability to handle many accents well, and thus moves easily among the different sexes, ages, and ethnic backgrounds of the characters. The audio cassettes are also very well produced, and are helped by the addition of some music to heighten the tension. If you find you don't like the beginning of the book, stick with it. I thought that the second half of the novel was unusually well plotted and developed. There is a virtual reality section that will amuse almost any reader. There is a mystery inside the sexual harrassment issue for Tom Sanders to solve. For mystery fans, you will find this mystery pretty simple to unravel. So don't buy the book expecting the return of Sherlock Holmes. You will probably have the mystery's conclusion figured out within the first 25 percent of the book. The unraveling of the mystery is done very well though, so it's fun just to listen to how Dr. Crichton manages it. After you finish reading this book, I suggest you be sure that everyone in your workplace knows what your polici
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Posted January 19, 2001
Pretty nice book. And pretty nice plot. And also found it a refreshing change from his usual sci-fi! True, it involves quite a bit of law and corporate pages (that made me cut a star from the rating) but the drama of the tug-of-war between one man and a whole company is pretty exciting. And for a change, the male is at the receiving end in a women's lib era. Read it in one sitting...sure deprived me of the whole night's sleep, but was worth it!
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Posted January 30, 2001
I just finished this book today, and I must say that it kept me on my toes. It had many suspenseful moments that kept the pages turning. The only downside to this book would have to be the ending in which I thought there should have been more Meredith-degrading at the end. I was really looking forward to hearing the exec's reactions to Meredith's actions - oh well, I'm over it - I recommend it!
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Posted November 5, 2000
A man expecting to be promoted to VP of his company, is surprised when his former subordinate and ex-mistress gets tabbed for the VP post. A power struggle takes place, and the new female VP tries to nail her former boss and current employee for sexual harrassment when he rebuffs her advances. Fast-paced with a couple of good plot twists.
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Posted January 7, 2000
I thought this book was a very mature read. I know that Mr. Chriton wrote this and it is a must read
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Posted January 18, 2010
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Posted November 23, 2008
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Overview
A brutal struggle in the cutthroat computer industry; a shattering psychological game of cat and mouse; an accusation of sexual harassment that threatens to derail a brilliant career...this is the electrifying core of Michael Crichton's new novel, the first since Rising Sun.At the center: Tom Sanders, an up-and-coming executive with DigiCom in Seattle, a man whose corporate future is certain. Until: after a closed-door meeting with his new boss -- a woman who was his lover ten years before, a woman who has been promoted to the position he expected to have -- he is accused of sexually harassing her. Now he finds himself trapped between what he knows to ...