For almost three decades, Michael Crichton has written novels that appeal to his reader=s imagination and take a firm hold of their pocketbooks. Crichton=s writing stands out as much as his 6=9@ frame. He has become one of the most widely read and bought science fiction authors of the past three decades. From his first novel The Andromeda Strain, which he published while in medical school, to his most recent Airframe, Crichton has captivated his readers and left them craving more. What makes Crichton=s novels unique are their topics. Criction=s fiction novels have topics that range from little known historical events to indistinct scientific topics, such as cloning and primate communication. Crichton=s novels intertwine factual information with his own fictional ideas to produce stories that sell.
             Crichton=s research is very accurate and detailed. This fact can be traced to Crichton=s extensive education, both formal and informal. Born John Michael Crichton in Chicago, Illinois, he was raised in Roslyn, New York. Crichton graduated from Harvard University, were studied to become an English major, but converted to studies in anthropology. After graduating summa cum laude, Crichton taught anthropology for one year at Cambridge University in England. After his tenure at Cambridge, Crichton attended Harvard Medical School, where he earned his doctorate. Crichton also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Salk Institute in California. (Jaynes 1)
             Crichton=s writing experienced a dry spell in the early eighties, when he said, A Writing was very difficult for me.@ Instead of writing Crichton traveled the world. Being an anthropologist, Crichton explored civilizations that are hard to reach. He traveled from Malaysia to Pakistan. He also made a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, and spent time in the South Pacific. (Jaynes 2) Crichton has had many experiences and gained enormous amounts of knowledge, which he employs i...