Crichton’s directorial career begins in not-so-hot ‘Pursuit’ (1972)
Michael Crichton Monday (Movie review): The author starts his pursuit of a directorial career, but it’s not exactly hot pursuit in this bland thriller.
Crichton previews ‘24’ in last Lange book, ‘Binary’ (1972)
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): If you want to know where “24’s” creators (maybe) got their ideas, check out the eighth John Lange novel.
‘Great Train Robbery’ (1978) a sharp but stiff procedural
Michael Crichton Monday (Movie review): In faithfully adapting his own novel, Crichton makes a film with historical heft but little zest.
‘Drug of Choice’ (1970) a pulpy ride of pharma paranoia
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): In his sixth John Lange book, Crichton peppers big ideas about Big Pharma into the pulp template.
Crichton masters the conspiracy thriller in ‘Coma’ (1978)
Michael Crichton Monday (Movie review): “Coma” may not be Crichton’s most original work, but it’s an outstanding example of a ’70s conspiracy thriller.
Colorful caricatures drive ‘Venom Business’ (1969)
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): Crichton-as-Lange breaks out in this slow-developing yet consistently entertaining fifth Lange novel.
‘Next’ (2006) a weirdly engineered novel about genetics
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): Crichton experiments with structure, making “Next” as much a scrapbook as a plotted story.
‘Zero Cool’ (1969), 4th Lange novel, has zero originality
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): Crichton is already recycling old ideas as his vacationing stand-in gets roped into a crazy adventure.
‘Travels’ (1988) gives surprising insight into Crichton
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): These essays touch on his inspirations for novels. But Crichton’s interest in the paranormal is the big surprise.
‘Disclosure’ (1994) a slick noir take on Crichton’s novel
Michael Crichton Monday (Movie review): Levinson’s fairly faithful adaptation brings Seventies corporate-intrigue noir into a Nineties office space.