It took me forever to answer this question. My answer is almost embarrassingly obvious.
I can list a bunch of movies that scratched my geeky heart and left a mark (Blade Runner, Alien, Star Wars...) and some children's and YA books that I adore (A Wrinkle in Time, The Hunger Games, The Giver, Ship Breaker, and a bunch of League authors' books, but I don't want to make them blush).
(Okay, okay, so maybe his books are more techno-thriller with some medical aspects thrown in, than sci-fi!)
Way back in college and med school, I read a bunch of his books. First, The Andromeda Strain (absence seizures as a plot device! Nice!) and Jurassic Park (remember when he had frog DNA inserted into dino DNA, and that was why some dinos changed gender? I'd learned about that in my own lab research). I'd also read others of his, including Travels (he got his aura fluffed in that one. Still not sure what to make of that). I really should read Coma (by Robin Cook, but Crichton directed the movie). The idea is pretty creepy. When I was a kid, visions of that movie--with the strings holding up those bodies--gave me nightmares.
My book, CONTROL, is part medical thriller, part sci-fi adventure (and part romance, but I'll save that for another time). And it only just occurred to me, as I opened up Blogger to type this post, that I have a major influence I haven't thought of in many, many years.
Michael Crichton.
(Okay, okay, so maybe his books are more techno-thriller with some medical aspects thrown in, than sci-fi!)
Way back in college and med school, I read a bunch of his books. First, The Andromeda Strain (absence seizures as a plot device! Nice!) and Jurassic Park (remember when he had frog DNA inserted into dino DNA, and that was why some dinos changed gender? I'd learned about that in my own lab research). I'd also read others of his, including Travels (he got his aura fluffed in that one. Still not sure what to make of that). I really should read Coma (by Robin Cook, but Crichton directed the movie). The idea is pretty creepy. When I was a kid, visions of that movie--with the strings holding up those bodies--gave me nightmares.
And of course, there was E.R., the show he created and produced. I used to watch that show like clockwork every Thursday night! That is, until I reached my clinical years in medical school, when my life became replete with real-life medical drama. Since then, I have never, ever watched another episode of E.R. or any medical-related drama on TV (sorry to all the Grey's Anatomy and House fans!).
I loved how Crichton mixed science and sometimes medicine in his stories. It captivated me as a student way back when. So without a doubt, I must tip my virtual hat to Dr. Crichton for paving the way for doctor/writers.
I loved how Crichton mixed science and sometimes medicine in his stories. It captivated me as a student way back when. So without a doubt, I must tip my virtual hat to Dr. Crichton for paving the way for doctor/writers.
How about you? Ever read a Michael Crichton novel? Have a favorite one?
p.s. I know lots of League members are posting on their agent experience this month. I've previously posted on my Querying Journey, and it's eye-opening. Check it out here.
p.s. I know lots of League members are posting on their agent experience this month. I've previously posted on my Querying Journey, and it's eye-opening. Check it out here.
