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Michael Crichton

19 years ago

The current issue of The New Republic has a funny article about Michael Crichton's latest novet, Next: Michael Crichton, Jurassic Prick. I haven't read any of Crichton's fiction since The Andromeda Strain was a bestseller, and I've never bought any of his books. The article make me glad I haven't contributed to his royalty checks.

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Comments (5)

sherwood38
19 years ago
Not being a subscriber I was unable to read the article, so have no idea what the point might be?

I have read a lot of Crichton's books and enjoyed them for the most part. I have no idea what his latest "Next" is about so have no idea of the context of the comment made about the 'small p**s' remark....could it be jealousy or sour grapes because he has been so successful?
Remember we all have different tastes and no author can please everyone!

Pat
cjoseph
Original Author
19 years ago
I didn't realize the article was unavailable to non-subscribers. It was about a passage in Next that describes a baby-raping small-penised Washington-based journalist named Mick Crowley who graduated from Yale. The author of the article is a Washington-based journalist named Michael Crowley who graduated from Yale and wrote a piece critical of Crichton's last novel. It seems to be a clear case of libel although Crowley says he's not going to file suit.
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Chris IÂve spent some time thinking about how to respond to your question. I admit I was taken aback by your tone, as you were apparently upset by my comment. If thatÂs the case, I apologize. I didnÂt mean to disparage Mr. Crichton; he was a great storyteller. Although as Martin mentioned, and as many scientists have said, his science wasnÂt always totally accurate. He was, however, writing fiction, so he should be given lots of leeway. IÂm not a scientist myself, although I do know the difference between the scientific method and method acting. Actually, come to think of it, IÂm not real sure what method acting is. IÂm certainly not an expert on global warming, either, and I only know what I read about it. I know that many excellent scientists do now agree that global warming does exist and that humans do play a part in that. I understand that not everyone in the scientific community shares that belief, though. Regarding CrichtonÂs book "State of Fear," I actually never read it because, based on the reviews, I didnÂt feel it was something I would enjoy reading. So I canÂt really comment about the book itself. I guess what I didnÂt say in my comment, but what I feel, is that if there is the remotest possibility that humans are worsening global warming, and if there is anything that we can do to slow down or reverse that process, than we should be promoting that. ThatÂs all that I meant by that comment. Vicki (Sarah)
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martin_z
19 years ago
Actually, you can get the article even if you're a non-subscriber - you only have to register.

It does indeed seem to be a fairly nasty piece of revenge by Michael Crichton in return for a bad review. Which is a bit unpleasant.

I quite enjoy Crichton, but you have to take what he claims to be "true science" with a helluva pinch of salt!
cindydavid4
19 years ago
I loved his early work: The Great Train Robbery is still a fav; also read Andromeda Strain and Jurrasic Park long before it was cool. But his later ones have been so filled with agenda that I have given up on him.
colormeconfused
19 years ago
I'm sorry to say that I have read Next and thought the writing poor and the plot thin and at times so outlandish that it wasn't even fun. Like Cindy and others, I enjoyed some of his earlier work, but I don't intend to read any more of his unless he improves. I tried to read the novel he wrote before Next and threw it down in disgust, so I certainly understand why Mr. Crowley was critical of it. But, as Pat points out, we all have different tastes and there are many who enjoy his work. I'm just no longer one of them.

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