Michael Crichton has had a number of successful careers--physician, teacher, film director, screenwriter--but he is perhaps best known for pioneering the "techno-thriller" with novels such as The Andromeda Strain, Sphere, and Jurassic Park. Whether writing about a deadly microorganism, brain surgery gone awry, or adventures in the Congo, Crichton's ability to blend the tight plot and suspense of the thriller with the technical emphasis of science fiction has made him a favorite with readers of all ages. Crichton's fame is not limited to literary endeavors; he has also directed a number of popular films with subjects ranging from body organ piracy (Coma) to advertising manipulation and murder (Looker), and he is the creator of the award-winning television drama ER. Summing up Crichton's appeal in the Dictionary of Literary Biography Yearbook, Robert L. Sims wrote: "His importance lies in his capacity to tell stories related to that frontier where...