About the Author
Michael Crichton was born on October 23, 1942 in Chicago, but he grew up in Roslyn, New York. His father was a journalist and encouraged him to pursue a career in writing. Crichton struggled to find a field that would hold his interest. He tried many career paths before he finally found his love for writing. However, he wrote novels all throughout his life. He started his post-high school career by attending Harvard University, studying English, but after recieving a B- on a paper, he gave up on his pursuit and went on to study in Harvard's medical school. There, he fed his desire to learn more about the natural world, which is portrayed in many of his books.
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"I had been writing to pay my way through medical school. I wrote paperback thrillers on vacations and weekends at a furious pace because the bills were due. I wrote under pseudonyms [. . .] Most of the problems beginning writers have didn’t effect me at all. No one knew I was doing it. It wasn’t under my own name. It was purely to make money to pay for my education [. . .] I just had to write it [. . .] and I had to get the money and go back to my classes." |
While in medical school, Crichton wrote several books under three different pseudonyms, with which he won several awards. Soon after recieving his MD in medicine from Harvard University and graduating Summa Cum Laude, Crichton lost interest in that field only to return to his writing career.
Additionally, Crichton had a dream to become a successful film director and screenplay writer, which he did starting in the early '70s. He turned many of his books into movies, such as Pursuit (1972), which was based off his book Binary. As a director, Crichton is famous for films like Westworld (1973) and Twister (1996). In 1994, Steven Speilberg helped develop one of his books into the #1 best-selling movie at the time, Jurassic Park.
Crichton moved on further to develop video games. In 1984, Crichton released a video game, designed for Atari 8-bit and DOS, named Amazon. The game had strong similarities to one of Crichton's own novels, Congo, and sold very well with over 100,000 copies. In 1999, Crichton founded a company with David Smith. The company only released one game, Timeline, which did not sell well enough and the company failed.
Crichton continued writing throughout his career and reviewed many awards as well. He went on to become the only person to create a number one best-selling novel, film, and tv series in the same year. He accomplished this feat in two consecutive years, 1995 and 1996.
Additionally, Crichton had a dream to become a successful film director and screenplay writer, which he did starting in the early '70s. He turned many of his books into movies, such as Pursuit (1972), which was based off his book Binary. As a director, Crichton is famous for films like Westworld (1973) and Twister (1996). In 1994, Steven Speilberg helped develop one of his books into the #1 best-selling movie at the time, Jurassic Park.
Crichton moved on further to develop video games. In 1984, Crichton released a video game, designed for Atari 8-bit and DOS, named Amazon. The game had strong similarities to one of Crichton's own novels, Congo, and sold very well with over 100,000 copies. In 1999, Crichton founded a company with David Smith. The company only released one game, Timeline, which did not sell well enough and the company failed.
Crichton continued writing throughout his career and reviewed many awards as well. He went on to become the only person to create a number one best-selling novel, film, and tv series in the same year. He accomplished this feat in two consecutive years, 1995 and 1996.
Michael Crichton died an unexpected death in Los Angeles on November 4, 2008 due to his courageous battle with cancer. His legacy continues on as many grieve Earth's sudden loss. In 2002, in honor of his contributions to the dinosaur world, a newly discovered dinosaur was named Crichtonsaurus bohlini for him. None of his work was in vain, and his many contributions to nearly every area of human life will be remembered for years to come. |
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“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. 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.”
— Director and Film Producer Steven Spielberg