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Michael Crichton
Posted by Allyson
on
10:04 AM
I've been reading a lot of books lately, most of them by one of my new favorite authors Michael Crichton. I started with Jurassic Park because I love the movie and was pretty much addicted. I went to Barnes and Noble and bought two more: The Lost World and Prey. I read Prey next and could not put it down. I literally sat at my desk upstairs and read the last few chapters when I was on the clock because I was in such suspense. Then I read The Lost World, Timeline, Rising Sun, and now I'm finishing up State of Fear. I have The Andromeda Strain/Terminal Man in my bookcase for my next book. After that I will read Sphere, Congo, The Great Train Robbery, Airframe, and then Next. I am really looking forward to Next and although it's already been published, I'm waiting for it to come out in paperback because I carry my books around in my purse and hardback books are heavy. I have to wait until November for that.
The reason I like his books so much is because of the way he can wrap you up in the story. With Jurassic Park I recall being huddled on my bed during the scary parts even though I knew the story. I also enjoy the obvious research he puts into these books, it's not often you read fiction with a bibliography several pages long in the back, also, footnotes referencing real journal articles and studies. State of Fear is about global warming, and I feel like I'm learning while enjoying a well-written thriller. Prey was about nano-robots (but not government-created killer nano-robots) , Jurassic Park and The Lost World was genetics, Timeline was time travel. Fascinating novels built on the backs of strong research and obvious intelligence. The only thing that bugs me, albeit slightly, about these books is that sometimes he goes too far into the sciency stuff and seems to be thrusting his own personal opinions onto us. But I forgive because the stories are so good. Also, the main characters are almost always male, and are usually normal, somewhat knowledgeable, are kind of dense, and always find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Also, lots of people die. Lots. I learned to not get too attached to one person because they'll probably die. I think in State of Fear maybe only one main character has died but they talk about him all the freaking time so he may as well be alive. No wait, I take it back, the first 4 chapters concluded with a death. So much death.
I still totally love these books though.
The reason I like his books so much is because of the way he can wrap you up in the story. With Jurassic Park I recall being huddled on my bed during the scary parts even though I knew the story. I also enjoy the obvious research he puts into these books, it's not often you read fiction with a bibliography several pages long in the back, also, footnotes referencing real journal articles and studies. State of Fear is about global warming, and I feel like I'm learning while enjoying a well-written thriller. Prey was about nano-robots (but not government-created killer nano-robots) , Jurassic Park and The Lost World was genetics, Timeline was time travel. Fascinating novels built on the backs of strong research and obvious intelligence. The only thing that bugs me, albeit slightly, about these books is that sometimes he goes too far into the sciency stuff and seems to be thrusting his own personal opinions onto us. But I forgive because the stories are so good. Also, the main characters are almost always male, and are usually normal, somewhat knowledgeable, are kind of dense, and always find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Also, lots of people die. Lots. I learned to not get too attached to one person because they'll probably die. I think in State of Fear maybe only one main character has died but they talk about him all the freaking time so he may as well be alive. No wait, I take it back, the first 4 chapters concluded with a death. So much death.
I still totally love these books though.
