A favorite among fans of science fiction, author Michael Crichton passed away on November 4 at the age of 66 after battling cancer. The author of more than a dozen bestselling books that leaned toward cautionary science tales, Crichton graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University. It was while he was studying at Harvard Medical School that he began writing novels under an alias. Bestseller Andromeda Strain, which was later turned into a major motion picture, was published while Crichton was still a student. Other well-known titles include The Great Train Robbery, Congo, Prey, State of Fear, Jurassic Park, and The Lost World. Crichton co-wrote the screenplay for Twister, and as the creator of long-running medical drama ER, he won an Emmy and a Writers Guild of America Award. Thirteen of Crichton's bestsellers were later turned into motion pictures.

Are you a fan of Crichton’s work? Leave us a comment and tell us what book had you quickly turning the pages or what movie got your heart pounding.