Michael Crichton: A Critical Companion

by Elizabeth A. Trembley

Until now, Michael Crichton's many readers have had nowhere to turn for more information on one of America's most popular novelists. This companion features clear analyses of Crichton's life and literary influences, as well as chapters on each of his 13 novels to date. It will help Crichton's readers to learn more about how significant events in his life affected the development of his fiction and literary style and how the heritage of popular fiction, including mystery, gothic, adventure, and science fiction, influenced his writing. This study provides close textual analysis of each of his novels in turn, focusing on plot, character development, theme, and critical interpretation.

This study analyzes Crichton's novels from ^IThe Andromeda Strain^R (1969) to ^IDisclosure^R (1994). It features a clear, user-friendly organization, with two general chapters on Crichton's life and literary heritage, and one chapter on each of his novels. For ease of use by the reader, each chapter is subdivided into sections on general critical analysis, plot, theme, character development, and alternative perspectives on the novel that offer additional insight. The author shows how each of Crichton's novels incorporates a theme or debate from current culture and how his visions of genetically engineered dinosaurs, killer viruses from outer space, and deadly relations in international business have become part of American culture. This study will help the reader to understand the important issues raised by Crichton's fiction and to apply critical insight to an examination of those issues. No secondary school, public library, or college library should be without this first serious examination of the works of Michael Crichton.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Elizabeth Trembley is a graphic memoirist whose debut memoir, Look Again (Street Noise 2022), was a finalist for the Graphic Medicine International Collective Award. Writing also under the pen name Josie Gordon, she is a Lambda Literary Award-winning mystery author. Beth teaches and coaches creators in prose and comics, facilitating the Graphic Memoir + Medicine Working Group at the Sequential Artists Workshop and leading workshops online, in-person, and individually. She holds a Ph.D. in literature from the University of Chicago, has studied at The Sequential Artists Workshop, Disney University, The Center for Cartoon Studies, and other programs, and has published widely on popular culture. After decades teaching, mentoring, and consulting, she has helped thousands explore storytelling. She lives in west Michigan with her spouse, pets, and a collection of Batman memorabilia, walking daily in the woods.